HC suggests escort police cell to take undertrials to court

The Bombay High Court today asked Maharashtra government to consider setting up of a separate cell in the police department to be responsible only for escort of undertrials from jails to courts for appearances.
The suggestion was made by a division bench of Justices N H Patil and Anuja Prabhudessai while hearing a public interest litigation alleging lack of police personnel to escort prisoners from jails to courts.
The PIL had sought for the government to set up video conference facilities in every jail and court across the state so that there is no delay in cases.
Additional public prosecutor Aruna Kamat-Pai today informed the court that by March 31, 146 courts and 54 jails across the state would have video conference facilities.

"Video conference facilities should be made available in every court and jail so as to reduce burden on the police. Several trials are getting delayed due to absence of accused in court. Lack of police personnel should not come in between speedy disposal of trials," the court said.
"Why doesn't the government consider creating a separate cell for handling this? Consider having an escort cell attached with every jail which will only be responsible for bringing accused from jail to court and vice versa," the court said.

The bench, however, added that for this the government will have to first fill up all the vacancies in the police department and increase manpower.

"One constable has to do so many things. Even an investigating officer has to do bandobast duty, election duty and so on and then is expected to investigate cases," the court said.
The bench has posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.