The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to provide information including the total number of people who are still in jails in connection with petty criminal cases for not paying the bail bond amount.
"How many persons are there in custody for not furnishing the bail or surety bonds in cases which are bailable and compoundable (matters which can be compromised by parties)," the Social Judge Bench of justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit said.
The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General N K Kaul, appearing for the Centre, to apprise it of "utilisation of Rs 609 crore" meant for carrying out prison reforms.
It also asked the state governments and Union territories (UTs) to cooperate with the central government and provide requisite information within three weeks.
The bench is hearing a PIL alleging inhuman conditions prevailing in 1382 prisons across the country.
The plea said that people have been in jails even in bailable offence cases.
