Supreme Court to Hear Plea on Digital Verification of Bail Sureties to Prevent Delay in Prisoners’ Release
The Supreme Court has issued notice on a petition seeking directions for using digital technology to verify bail sureties, so that prisoners who have already secured bail are not forced to remain in jail due to procedural delays.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the notice and also impleaded the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) through its member secretary.
The plea has been filed by Rocky Abraham, a senior citizen living in Italy for over two decades. He was arrested at Delhi Domestic Airport in January under the Wild Animal Protection Act, 1972, for allegedly carrying a deer horn worth about 20 Euros. Although bail was granted, he spent an additional eight days in jail as his sureties had to travel from Kerala to Delhi for verification.
The petitioner has highlighted that lack of technology in bail procedures results in unnecessary incarceration. He explained that obtaining and verifying sureties is a slow process since police often travel to distant places for verification, and most courts only accept sureties known personally to the accused.
The plea seeks directions to the Union Government, Delhi Government and Delhi Police to adopt digital systems for executing and verifying sureties, keeping in mind the mobility of today’s generation. Apart from this, the petitioner has also sought personal reliefs, including return of his passport, relaxation of bail conditions restricting foreign travel, and an inquiry into alleged mistreatment at Tihar Jail.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on September 15. Advocate Wills Mathews appeared for the petitioner.
