Kiosks to help Bengaluru central prison's undertrials track cases

BENGALURU: Undertrials languishing in Bengaluru central prison in Parappana Agrahara can now keep track of the progress of their cases without stepping out of jail, thanks to digitialisation efforts by the Prisons Departmnent and the High Court computerisation committee. Over the next few months, the department will be installing kiosks in all jails, beginning with the central jail at Parappana Agrahara.

“Most undertrials are in the dark about the progress of their cases.They are dependent on their advocates and get into more trouble when advocates don't attend calls or don't turn up in court. Undertrials will also know if their case has been adjourned," Kamal Pant, ADGP (Prisons) said.

The kiosks are in use at the high court, city civil court and sessions courts. This will be extended to the jails as well. To begin with, six kiosks will be installed in the Parappana Agrahara jail, he added.

“In time, the facility will be extended to other jails in the state. Undertrials can even keep track whether arguments were held or not," he said.

Many undertrials are forced to languish in prison because of the lack of proper legal aid and often do not know what is happened with their case. With the kiosks, prisoners can access details such as the date of hearing and the orders, said sources in the High Court.