Chennai:
The Madras High Court on Thursday ordered release of 73 prisoners languishing in various prisons across Tamil Nadu even after having obtained bail, but unable to furnish surety.
Disposing off a petition, a Division Bench, comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M Venugopal directed their release on bail after a self executed bond before the court concerned.
The prisoners to be released are from Puzhal (26), Vellore (six), Tiruchirapalli (17), Tiruchirapalli (Women-three), Salem (seven), Coimbatore (one), Palayamkottai (six) and Madurai (seven).
P Senthil Kumar, in his petition prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to take necessary action to release on bail the prisoners languishing in prisons in Tamil Nadu for a long time, without insisting on any surety.
A Bench on December 23, 2011, had directed DGP (Prisons) to get details of the accused, who despite being granted bail, were still languishing in prisons due to non-furnishing of sureties to the satisfaction of the court concerned.
Accordingly, a statement was filed stating that most bail orders granted by lower courts were not followed by prisons concerned and details of such prisoners was also filed.