The Supreme Court of India has initiated a suo motu case over bail orders passed by the Orissa High Court and district courts in Odisha directing certain accused persons to clean police stations as a condition for their release on bail.
The matter is scheduled to be heard today by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The suo motu proceedings come amid reports that several courts in Odisha, including the High Court, had imposed such conditions while granting bail to accused persons. The directions reportedly required accused persons to clean police stations as part of the terms for their release.
According to the source text, many of the cases involved Dalit and Adivasi persons who had participated in anti-mining protests in the State.
The issue has gained attention after reports highlighted that such bail conditions were being imposed in multiple cases. As per website Article 14, the Odisha High Court and district courts have issued at least eight such bail orders since 2023.
The Supreme Court’s suo motu intervention will bring judicial scrutiny to the legality and propriety of such bail conditions, particularly where they require accused persons to perform acts such as cleaning police stations as a precondition for release.
The matter will now be considered by the Bench led by CJI Surya Kant.
