DLSA holds UTRC meeting at Bandipora

BANDIPORA, October 21: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bandipora today convened an Under Trial Review Committee (UTRC) meeting, in adherence to the directives issued by the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) and J&K Legal Services Authority (J&K LSA).

The meeting held at District Court Bandipora aimed to address the issues surrounding under trial prisoners and expedite the process of releasing eligible candidates who have undergone a lengthy waiting period without trial.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Owais Ahmad, Principal District & Sessions Judge Bandipora, Amit Sharma. 

The committee reviewed the cases of the Under-trial Prisoners lodged in different jails in the district as per the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and NALSA SOPs. The focus was particularly on the persons having no proper representation who have spent a substantial duration behind bars without trial due to various reasons, such as administrative backlog, lack of legal representation, or inadequate documentation.

The main aim was the release of under trial prisoners who meet certain eligibility criteria as per the NALSA SOPs.

The Cases of the under- trials falling under the Specified categories were threadbare discussed. The Preliminary exercise was made in respect of the cases of under-Trial prisoners. Various cases of Prisoners falling under these categories were recommended by the Committee. It was accordingly recommended that the concerned court where the trial of these Undertrial Prisoners is pending shall consider the release of these under trial prisoners.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Secretary DLSA Bandipora, Nusrat Ali Hakak, Additional Superintendent Police Sandeep Bhat, Chief Prosecuting Officer Abdul Majeed, Senior Prosecuting Officer Bandipora, Incharge Officer Subsidiary Jail Bandipora.