Gujarat High Court Awards ₹1 Lakh to Man Jailed 3 Extra Years Due to Bail Order Neglect
The Gujarat High Court has ordered the State to compensate a man with ₹1 lakh after he remained in prison for three years despite being granted bail. The authorities failed to act on an email containing the bail order, leading to wrongful imprisonment.
Court Finds Authorities at Fault
A division bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice MR Mengdey ruled in favor of Chandanji Thakor, a 27-year-old convict, after he filed a fresh application. The Court noted that the registry had informed the jail authorities about his bail order. However, despite receiving the email, they claimed they could not open the attachment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The District Sessions Court also received the email but failed to ensure the order was implemented. The convict, who was serving a life sentence for murder, had his sentence suspended on September 29, 2020. Yet, he remained in jail due to negligence by multiple authorities.
Negligence and Legal Failure
The Court criticized the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for not informing the jail about the bail order. It emphasized that the failure of prison officials to verify the release order led to unnecessary imprisonment.
“The applicant could have enjoyed his freedom, but he was forced to remain in jail only because no attention was paid by the jail authorities to verify the order,” the Court stated.
Court Orders Compensation and Investigation
Calling it a “serious lapse,” the Court directed the State to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation within 14 days. Additionally, all District Legal Services Authorities were instructed to collect data on prisoners granted bail who may still be wrongfully detained.
This case highlights the need for better communication and accountability within the judicial and prison systems to prevent similar injustices in the future.
Be a part our social media community:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianMan.in?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/indianman.in?igsh=MWZ2N3N0ZmpwM3l3cw==
