Kohima: Twelve undertrial prisoners walked free from Nagaland jails between April and June. The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority confirmed the releases Monday following quarterly reviews. District Legal Services Authorities held 44 meetings across the state to audit inmate files.
Nagaland currently holds 333 undertrial prisoners, split between 319 men and 14 women. The state also houses 111 convicts: 110 men and one woman. These prisoners are held in the Central Jail and ten district facilities.
Review committees identified 26 inmates eligible for release across 16 categories. These categories include elderly prisoners over 70, sick inmates, first-time offenders, and those charged with minor crimes. Legal teams filed bail applications or other motions for these individuals. The authority noted that "all inmates were represented either by legal aid counsel or private lawyers."
Committees focused on specific legal provisions including Sections 436A and 436 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. They also looked at cases involving prisoners who could not afford bail sureties or those accused of compoundable offenses. After finishing the legal paperwork, 12 prisoners secured their release. Officials continue to monitor medical needs and legal aid status for the remaining jail population.
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