Courts Supreme Court
Supreme Court directs states to fix stalled undertrial release committees
This matter concerns the implementation of Supreme Court directions regarding the release of undertrial prisoners and the functioning of District Level Empowered Committees (DLECs).
The Court addressed non-compliance by specific states and directed regular meetings and timely decision-making by these committees.
Who it concerns: Petitioner: Satender Kumar Antil; Respondents: Central Bureau of Investigation & Anr.; Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.M. Sundresh and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Prasanna B. Varale.
What the court decided
- Directed all District Level Empowered Committees (DLECs) to meet regularly as mandated by the revised SOP dated 02.12.2025.
- Directed DLECs to take timely decisions on pending cases instead of deferring or adjourning them.
- Directed NALSA to ensure District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) take adequate steps to prevent cases from remaining pending due to lack of Financial/Social Status Reports.
- Ordered compliance reports to be submitted to the Amicus Curiae before the next hearing.
- Permitted the Contempt Petitioner to serve papers on the Amicus Curiae.
- Adjourned the matter to 06.10.2026.
Also in the document
- The Court noted non-compliance with directions by the States of Punjab and Maharashtra.
- The Court noted that DLEC meetings were not being held regularly as mandated.
- Data from Uttar Pradesh indicated many cases were pending before DLECs without decisions despite multiple meetings.
- The Court noted that in some Uttar Pradesh cases, delays were caused by awaited Financial/Social Status Reports from DLSAs.
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The original document
Supreme Court of India — orders & judgments
Court order · 1 Sep 2026
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