SHOPIAN: In an effort to strengthen access to justice and facilitate timely relief to deserving inmates, the Legal Aid Defence Counsels of Shopian and Pulwama on Monday carried out a joint inspection of Central Jail Srinagar.
The inspection was conducted to identify cases eligible for early release in accordance with the categories laid down under the Standard Operating Procedure for the forthcoming Under Trial Review Committee meeting.
The joint team was led by the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority Shopian and Pulwama, Mudasar Farooq. The team included Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel Shopian Rafie Ahmad Ganie, Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel Pulwama Mehrajudin Wani and Junior Assistant DLSA Pulwama Shakir Ahmad.
The team was assisted by Senior Superintendent of Jail Saba Shawl, who briefed the visiting officials about the inmate population and the administrative functioning of the jail.
During the inspection, the LADC teams conducted a detailed review of individual inmate cases. The assessment focused on identifying prisoners who may be eligible for release under different categories specified in the SOP and Under Trial Review Committee guidelines.
These categories include undertrial prisoners who have completed half of the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence, first-time offenders involved in minor offences, elderly or infirm inmates, and those who have been granted bail but are unable to furnish surety.
The team also interacted with inmates in different barracks to verify legal records, assess the status of their cases and ensure that no eligible inmate is deprived of legal aid or relief because of a lack of awareness or assistance.
Following the inspection, a consolidated list of eligible inmates has been prepared and will be placed before the upcoming Under Trial Review Committee meeting for consideration and further action.
