Dimapur, June 4 (EMN): The monthly meeting of the under trial review committee (UTRC) was conducted in various districts. The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) issued a press release on Tuesday informing about the meetings that were conducted by the authorities.
In Tuensang, the UTRC meeting was conducted on May 31 at the district jail. The press release mentioned that 15 under trial prisoners and 12 convicts were lodged in the district jail. Three of the under trial prisoners were found eligible for free legal aid. The panel lawyer in charge of jail will take up the cases for further proceeding, the press release stated.
The UTRC meeting also deliberated that most of the UTPs/convicts in the jail also have “psychological problems.”
“The consequences is that if they are not well reformed in the proper sense and that once the prisoners are released into the society without proper treatment they find difficulties in adjustment and the social aberration continues,” it added.
It was emphasized that modern criminal jurisprudence lay much emphasis on reformation of criminals in all dimensions. Therefore, the committee called for prompt steps for appointment of regular trained counselors in jail.
“It is utmost necessity that jail should have proper detoxification programme in order to rehabilitate them,” the committee pointed out.
In Zunheboto, the URTC sitting was held on June 3 during which cases of three under trial prisoners were brought for consideration by the committee. It was recommended that because the statutory period of detention had expired, it intimated the Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority to take necessary steps for filing bail application on statutory grounds. As per the jail report, there were 17 under trial prisoners and five convicts.
The Phek District Legal Services Authority also conducted the UTRC meeting at District and sessions judge chamber on May 28.
In Dimapur, the committee stated that the district magistrate will take up the matter of post creation of regular doctors for district jails. A recommendation to take necessary steps to increase the bed capacity to “5/6 beds” or to provide extra larger rooms at the district hospital for medical treatment of the under trial prisoners and convicts, the press release stated.
On recommendation made to the trial court, an accused with medical needs was released on personal bond on medical ground, the updates informed.
In Peren, the URTC meeting was held on May 29. A case was recommended by the committee for release. A case of compoundable offences of under trial prisoners was identified and further recommended by the URTC for release, the press release stated.
