29 Dec 2008, 0336 hrs IST, TNN
MUMBAI: More than 150 inmates of Arthur Road jail have chosen to take advantage of plea bargaining, which facilitates a quick release from jail for
an accused who admits guilt, and averts a lengthy criminal trial.
The undertrials got help for the paperwork from law students, who met them in a jail barrack. The students received more than 150 forms from them, indicating the prisoners' readiness to plead guilty without a trial. The accused also gave details of their crime and the status of their case in court.
"Many are youngsters who committed the crime in desperation. One man in his mid-20s stole just Rs 3,000 because his wife was ill, and is now in jail since several months,'' said Triveni Jani, a student.
"The forms filled out by the inmates have been sent to the Legal Aid Cell of the high court, so that the inmates can get lawyers for free to take the process forward,'' said Prakash Tathe of the Maharashtra State Legal Service Commission.
"We are delighted at the response of the inmates, and hope it will help them return to the societal fold,'' said jailer Swati Sathe. The Arthur Road jail alone holds nearly 3,000 prisoners, although its capacity is just 800. A majority of them are undertrials.
Law student Prince Gala said, "Our principal, Neelima Chandiramani, has been encouraging us in this work. We will continue to go to jail every week, as the healthy response has shown that there are many more prisoners who will opt for plea bargaining.''
The idea of plea bargaining was introduced in India three years ago, but has been slow to catch on, largely because of lack of awareness amongst prisoners and legal officers. However, lawyers say that the advantages of a properly implemented plea bargaining system are manifold, as it would reduce the burden of cases on courts, and ensure that prisoners do not languish in overcrowded jails for years before their case comes up for hearing.
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