New Delhi: The Supreme Court ordered on Friday that all inmates who had been released from custody during the Covid-19 pandemic in an effort to relieve jail overcrowding should return within 15 days.
Following their surrender, undertrial inmates who were granted emergency bail during the pandemic can apply for regular bail before competent tribunals, according to a panel of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar.
"All the convicts who were released during Covid-19 pandemic after their surrender can move competent courts for suspension of their sentence", the bench said.
Several convicts and undertrial prisoners, mostly those who were booked for non-heinous offences, were released during the pandemic in various states on the recommendations of a high-powered committee set up pursuant to directions of the apex court.
With PTI inputs