CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Saturday instructed all District and Sessions Judges to hold camp courts on the jail premises to deal with the extraordinary situation across the State arising out of prolonged abstinence of works by the advocates. The High Court also laid down details of the manner and principles to be adhered by the criminal courts while holding camp courts and entertaining bail applications from the accused in custody. As per the instructions, the camp court shall be held inside the jail premises within the working hours on each working days.
The presiding officer shall be accompanied by his clerk and one of his Group ‘D’ staff along with Stenographer and the Court Sub Inspector(CSI). The concerned clerk or the CSI shall put up the relevant records before the Presiding Officer. Concerned Secretary, District Legal Service Authority shall ensure that jail Para Legal Volunteer (PLV) is present inside the jail.
The PLVs in coordination with the jail authorities are to make UTPs aware that they can seek for enlargement on bail by filing applications through jail authorities concerned. The identity of the accused shall be verified by the Jail Superintendent/Assistant Jail Superintendent. In case of arrest and first production, the same be made in the camp court inside the jail.
Where bail will be allowed, provisionally PR bond be should taken and the accused asked to furnish regular surety bond(s) after one/two months fixing a date for it. The recourse should be taken where bail has already been granted and the accused has not been released for non-furnishing of bail bonds. While the jail authorities shall ensure that at the time of bail hearing, none apart from court staff and CSI are present, the principle of law applicable to bail will be kept in mind while dealing with bail applications.