Supreme Court To Hear Plea Seeking Digital Verification Of Bail Sureties To Avoid Delay In Release Of Prisoners

The Supreme Court issued notice on a writ petition seeking directions to the police authorities for the use of digital technology to verify bail sureties to obviate delay in the release of prisoners who have secured bail.

The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notice in the matter. The bench also impleaded the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) through its member secretary.

The petitioner is a senior citizen who has been settled in Italy for the last 23 years and was arrested in January at the Delhi Domestic Airport under Sections 39/49/51 of the Wild Animal Protection Act,1972, on the allegation that he was transporting a "deer horn" from Italy, valued at approximately 20 Euros. Due to the delay in the verification of his sureties, who came from Kerala to Delhi, the petitioner had to undergo eight more days in jail after the grant of bail.

The main grievance of the petitioner is the lack of technological advancements in ensuring the execution of surety, verification of surety and listing of cases in criminal/ bail matters. 

The plea explains : 

"If bail is granted, obtaining the execution of surety can be quite challenging, as frequently the surety must travel from remote locations, and the police are required to visit these areas for verification purposes. Generally, the accused will be in jail all throughout even after the grant of bail because of the time taken for execution and verification of surety. Most of the courts accept sureties known to the accused only." 

The petitioner seeks a direction to the Union Government, Delhi Government and the Delhi Police "to immediately take steps by making use of science and technology in executing surety and verification of the same considering the nature requirements for the present generation who are frequently travelling all over India and abroad ."

Apart from that, the petitioner seeks certain individual reliefs such as return of his passport, modification of bail conditions which bars him from travelling abroad and also inquiry into alleged ill-treatment at Tihar Jail.

The matter will now be heard on September 15. 

Advocate Wills Mathews appeared for the petitioner. 

Case Details : ROCKY ABRAHAM Petitioner(s) VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS.