The Delhi High Court has issued directions to prison authorities to prevent delays in releasing inmates after bail has been granted, observing that prolonged detention despite a judicial bail order violates fundamental rights. The court has directed all Delhi prisons to adopt Aadhaar QR code-based verification technology to authenticate sureties and speed up the release process.
A division bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Mahajan, in its May 22 order, said keeping a person in jail for up to 50 days after bail had been granted was completely unacceptable. The court said such delays directly affect personal liberty guaranteed under the Constitution.
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Court Flags Delays After Bail Orders
During the hearing, the bench found that delays in verifying sureties and supporting documents were forcing several prisoners to remain in jail longer than legally justified. In some cases reviewed by the court, delays ranged from 33 to 56 days.
The High Court said such prolonged incarceration could not be justified on administrative grounds, especially at a time when digital verification systems are widely available. It stressed that matters involving liberty and human rights cannot be treated as routine procedural formalities.
The court observed that once bail is granted, prison authorities, police officials and other departments must ensure that the order is implemented without avoidable delay.
Aadhaar QR Scanner and mAadhaar App Directed
To streamline the process, the court directed all jail superintendents in Delhi to use Aadhaar QR Scanner applications and the mAadhaar app for verification of sureties and identity documents. The bench said digital tools could help reduce procedural delays and ensure faster release of inmates.
The court clarified that where additional scrutiny is required, authorities must complete the process on priority. It also directed departments involved in the bail process to coordinate more effectively so that judicial orders are not held up due to administrative inefficiency.
The bench further noted that verification delays were also occurring in cases involving bank documents and fixed deposits submitted as part of bail conditions.
Banks Asked to Respond Promptly
The court was informed that slow responses from banks were contributing to continued detention of inmates even after bail had been granted. The High Court directed that the existing email-based verification process for bank documents may continue, but banks must respond promptly in such matters.
Legal experts believe the order could strengthen the use of technology in the criminal justice system and improve transparency in prison administration. They said the purpose of bail is defeated if a person remains behind bars despite securing judicial relief.
Delhi prison authorities and related departments are expected to move towards implementation of the digital verification system. Officials believe Aadhaar-based authentication could make the bail release process faster, more efficient and more transparent.
