The Delhi High Court on Friday initiated on its own a public interest litigation (PIL) based on letters sent by undertrials lodged in the jails here, seeking a speedy disposal of their cases, which were pending in the lower courts for years.

The court sought response from the Delhi government on the issue by August 13, the next date of hearing.

The court took cognisance of five letters sent by seven people who are facing trial for cases ranging from murder to drug possession and also under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

One of these undertrials, , Ujair Ahmed, was arrested in 2013 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for various offences under the UAPA. He is lodged in Rohini jail for over five years now, but the case is yet to be put on charge.

Mohammad Sajid, Shahjahan and Sattar, lodged in Tihar Jail, are facing a drug possession and trafficking case lodged against them in 2014. They have written in their letter that the trial in the matter is pending in the lower court, which has till date examined only eight of the 26 witnesses. They have sought a speedy trial.

Imran Khan, another undertrial, who is lodged in Tihar Jail here since July 2016, was arrested by the NIA for offences under the UAPA. His letter said that the chargesheet in his case was filed in July 2016, but since then, there has been no progress.

Shahbuddin, an accused in a 2015 murder case, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, has prayed for a speedy trial of his case in which the lower court has examined only eight of the 20 witnesses till date.

A plea made by Shankar, accused in a 2014 rape case, also lodged in Tihar Jail, contended that the trial court has examined only nine of the 17 witnesses in the case so far.