UTP languishing in jail for 12 years

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday took up the case of an under-trial prisoner (UTP) who is languishing in Shillong jail for almost 12 years.
When the pending PIL in this regard came up for hearing, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice V.P Vaish said from the summary of the UTP’s cases presented before the court, it was noticed that in a few cases, the accused is in custody for more than five years and the trial is still going on.
The court observed that one such case appears to be of an UTP identified as Demansingh Kynter, who is in custody probably for 11 years and 11 months, which is the longest term in Meghalaya.
Kynter’s case is pending in the District Council Court in Shillong and the accused is charged under sections 302/376/34 of the IPC taken up by the fast track court in 2006.
During the first session of the High Court, a direction was issued to produce the case record and the UTP before the court.
Later during the second session, the accused was produced along with the case record.
Amicus curiae H.S Thangkhiew and Government Advocate P. Agarwal sought a day’s time to examine the record.
Counsel K. Paul for the KHADC, who is assisting the court, was also permitted to examine the record.
The matter will come up for hearing on Thursday and the accused will also be produced again before the court.