Release prisoners on personal bond: Allahabad high court

Rajesh Kumar Pandey | TNN | Apr 7, 2020, 16:50 IST

Taking up a self-instituted PIL, the Allahabad high court on Monday directed release of all Uttar Pradesh prisoners, who were directed to be released on bail on or before March 15, 2020 by all the courts of the state including high court, on personal bond in case they are unable to furnish sureties due to nationwide lockdown.

Taking up a self-instituted PIL, the Allahabad high court on Monday directed release of all Uttar Pradesh pris...Read More

PRAYAGRAJ: Taking up a self-instituted PIL, the Allahabad high court on Monday directed release of all Uttar Pradesh prisoners, who were directed to be released on bail on or before March 15, 2020 by all the courts of the state including high court, on personal bond in case they are unable to furnish sureties due to nationwide lockdown.
According to Criminal Procedure Code, when the court grants bail to an accused, it is mandatory for the accused to produce a person or persons (normally relative or friends), who stand as surety.
A surety is a person, who comes to the court and promises to a judge to supervise an accused person while he is out on bail.
A surety also pledges or promises an amount of money to the court by signing a type of bond called recognizance.
Taking suo moto action at the residence office of Chief Justice, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Varma further directed that such prisoners may be released on executing personal bond as ordered by the court or to the satisfaction of the jail authorities, where such accused had been imprisoned.
However, the court made it clear that such bail will be granted provided the accused undertakes to furnish required sureties within a period of one month from the date of his/her personal release.