15th High Powered Committee on release of prisoners on bail

Imphal, 1st April, 2022

15th High Powered Committee on release of prisoners on bail

The 15th High Powered Committee was held on 1st April 2022 at the office of Manipur State Legal Services Authority, ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex, with His Lordship Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lanusungkum Jamir, Executive Chairman, Manipur State Legal Services Authority in the chair.

In pursuance of the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a High Powered Committee was constituted to oversee the release of prisoners on bail/ parole as a measure to avoid congestion/ overcrowding in jails in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ojesh Mutum, Member Secretary, MASLSA; H. Gyan Prakash, Special Secretary (Home), Govt. of Manipur; Lunsieh Kipgen, Inspector General of Prisons , Manipur; Sorokhaibam Sadananda, Addl. Member Secretary, MASLSA and Dr. Th. Charanjeet Singh, Dy. Secretary (Home), Govt. of Manipur attended the said meeting.

Out of the 15 UTPs, whose term of interim bail has been extended by the 14th High Powered Committee Meeting, it has been reported from the courts that 2 (two) UTPs has been granted absolute bail by the concerned courts. Hence, the remaining 13 UTPs were taken up for consideration.

The Member Secretary, MASLSA placed before the Committee the report received from the respective courts as to the status of the process issued by the courts for securing the appearance of the 20 UTPs whose bail has been cancelled on the recommendation of the HPC. It has been placed that their appearance has been secured and none had appeared before the courts.

It has been placed by the Inspector General of Prisons that out of the 4 convicts who were recommended for release on parole, one has been released prematurely by the Govt. of Manipur. Further, he placed before the Committee that there is no congestion in the jails and as the covid situation has improved, there is no need for granting parole to the remaining 3 convicts.

The IGP (Prisons) placed before the Committee the intake capacity and the prison population as on 30th March, 2022 for both the jails of Manipur. He also stated that as per the space provided for each prisoner under the Manipur Jail Manual, 2018, Sajiwa Central Jail have a capacity of 845 prisoners and Imphal Central Jail have a capacity of 250 prisoners. At present, 515 prisoners and 31 prisoners are lodged in the jails respectively. It has also been submitted that the state police have been very co-operative in taking the necessary precautions also.

After due deliberations and as agreed upon by all the members of the Committee, it is unanimously resolved that the interim bail period of 6 UTPs are recommended to be extended for another 3 months, i.e. from 1st April, 2021 to 30th June, 2022.

Whereas, the interim bails of 7 UTPs who are no longer appearing before the Courts are recommended to be cancelled.

With regard to the UTPs, whose bails has been cancelled on recommendation by the HPC, and whose appearances are not secured still, it is resolved that the Home Department may issue stringent instructions so that their appearance may be secured at the earliest. A report may be placed before the Committee on the next meeting by the Home Department as to the steps taken.

As far as the release of convicts on parole is concerned, the proposal placed by the Inspector General of Prisons is accepted and further extension of the parole is not recommended as there is no congestion in prisons as of now and the COVID situation has improved as of date.

It has also been resolved that the High Power Committee will convene the next meeting tentatively in the second week of June, 2022 or in case if any urgency arises in between, the State Home Department and the jail authorities may move for convening the meeting of the HPC.

(Sorokhaibam Sadananda)
Additional Member Secretary
Manipur State Legal Services Authority
ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex,
Lamphelpat, Imphal