The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench has permitted withdrawal of a public interest litigation concerning the issue of prisoners remaining in custody despite being granted bail, with liberty to the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court, noting that the subject matter is already sub judice before the apex court.
The responses record shows 114 bail-granted prisoners in Meerut, 13 in Pilibhit, 10 each in Ghaziabad and Balrampur, 31 in Moradabad, 16 in Ayodhya, 7 in Gorakhpur and 14 in Jhansi remaining in custody due to issues including inability to furnish sureties and absence of required reports.
A Division Bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Zafeer Ahmad was hearing the matter. Senior Advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, appearing for the petitioner, requested permission to withdraw the petition and approach the Supreme Court by filing an appropriate application, on the ground that the subject matter was already pending consideration before the apex court.
The High Court accordingly dismissed the PIL as withdrawn, while granting liberty to the petitioner to pursue the appropriate remedy before the Supreme Court.
