SC: Jail officers should access faster cells for quick execution of bail orders, apex court gave instructions

Laxman Ram was released from custody, nevertheless, before the supreme court agreed to hear the application on February 16. The bench stated on February 16 that although the individual in question was freed, the matter of the delay in presenting the accused to the trial court must be taken into account.

The bench, in its final order passed on March 4, said that for effective communication of bail orders, the court has framed a protocol called 'Faster Sale' and standard operating procedure (SOP) has also been prescribed for its implementation. We direct the Jail Superintendents of various jails across the country to ensure that e-mails are accessed twice a day (in the morning as well as during the program) as per SOP. The jail authorities should take action by producing the accused before the concerned courts keeping the orders in mind.

The bench said that the most relevant part of the 'FASTER' scheme is that all orders granting bail are sent through e-mail to the concerned authorities such as nodal officers of states and union territories, district courts and jail superintendents. This court order granting bail has a digital signature and a QR code. SMS is generated immediately after the order is placed on the system through Faster Sale. The bench said that if there is any doubt about the genuineness of the orders uploaded through 'Faster Cell', the jail authorities can always refer to the apex court website for verification.