Parliamentary committee expresses concern over delay in granting bail to undertrials

NEW DELHI: Members of a Parliamentary committee have expressed concern over delays in granting bail to undertrials for want of money and have suggested involvement of elected representatives to ensure that those in need get good lawyers to contest their cases.

Participating in a meeting of Consultative Committee on Law and Justice here last night, Rajya Sabha members K T S Tulsi (Nominated), Majeed Memon ( NCP) and A Navneethakrishnan ( AIADMK) expressed their concern over delay in getting bail due to lack of money and little availability of good lawyers.

They pointed out that low remunerations to panel lawyers offered to those who cannot afford one was another reason in delay in getting justice to those who cannot afford to contest court cases.

They said efficient and well-briefed lawyers be made available to the persons from the moment they are detained.

"The litigant should have a choice of lawyer. Local elected representatives should be involved for this purpose," a Law Ministry release said quoting them.

Tulsi suggested that there should be a multi-disciplinary body which should run the legal aid programme. Another suggestion made was to concentrate on improving the conviction rate.

Memon said due to delay in justice delivery, people are losing faith in the justice system. He said as trials drag on for decades, there is no way to compensate a person of his valuable time lost as an undertrail after he is found to be not guilty.

The consultative committee meetings are chaired by Cabinet ministers of the respective ministries.