More than 3,500 prisoners from across the country have reached out to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) seeking legal assistance under a nationwide campaign to ensure access to justice for unrepresented inmates, a press release stated.
According to the statement, by May 5, around 3,800 inmates had formally requested legal help from the committee. The SCLSC, in collaboration with state legal services authorities (SLSAs) and prison departments, launched the campaign on January 10, 2025.
“The initiative aims to support legally vulnerable inmates, especially those with viable legal remedies who remain unrepresented. It also extends to prisoners requiring urgent legal intervention, those who have not filed appeals against conviction, and those who have served over half of their maximum sentence but have not been granted bail,” the SCLSC noted.
Additionally, the drive assists inmates whose applications for remission or premature release have been rejected and who have not approached the Supreme Court for relief.
As part of the campaign, a detailed exercise was carried out in coordination with SCLSC, SLSAs, High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs), and prison authorities. The effort initially identified 4,216 eligible inmates. On April 1, Justice Surya Kant, chairman of the SCLSC, convened a national virtual meeting with the chairpersons of HCLSCs and SLSAs, urging them to form special committees to visit prisons and encourage inmates to avail themselves of the legal aid offered.
A follow-up review meeting was held on May 5 under the leadership of Justice Kant. It stressed the need for high court legal services committees to appoint district-level nodal officers for better coordination with the SCLSC. These officers are tasked with resolving documentation issues, seeking clarifications, and ensuring prompt follow-up action.
The release also highlighted that while some inmates declined legal aid due to reasons such as imminent release, private legal representation, or anticipation of remission on Independence Day or Republic Day, the overall response demonstrated the initiative’s success.
As of May 13, panel advocates had been appointed in approximately 600 matters where documentation was complete, and 285 cases had been officially filed before the Supreme Court.
