Agony over the non-compliance of the Uttar Pradesh government: Supreme Court says it might summon DGP

On April 21, 2023, the Supreme Court of India was hearing the contempt of court petitions seeking premature release and was preferred by prisoners lodged in the Uttar Pradesh jail. The top Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha expressed their agony over the non-compliance of the Uttar Pradesh government with its September 2022 judgment. The judgment directed prisoners to be considered for remission once they became eligible. CJI orally remarked that “Some of these prisoners have been in jail for 20 years or 22 years. Then they file a contempt petition. They have to comply with our orders. The next time a matter like this comes to us, we are going to summon the Director-General of Police (DGP). Every time, we have said personal appearance has been dispensed with, but the next time, we are going to insist that they come to the court. We do not want to bring officers to the court because they have other important duties in service of the state and the citizens, but if this continues, we will have to summon them.” The bench listed the matter for hearing on April 28, 2023. 

The Supreme Court directed the DGP in the state of Uttar Pradesh to file an affidavit at the beginning of 2023 that outlines the steps taken in the 2022 judgment regarding the remission of prisoners. The same was not initiated therefore, during the heating CJI told the additional advocate general to convey their anguish. He states that “Please convey our anguish. If they do not set compliance with its orders, we will have to summon them. You talk to them and tell them this. Otherwise, this is no small matter for the Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India to summon the Director-General of Police (DGP).”

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