Union Government rejects SC's suggestion for separate bail law, cites adequacy of BNSS provisions
New Delhi: The Union Government has informed the Supreme Court that there is no intention to introduce a separate law on bail, stating that the provisions under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 are sufficient.
In response to the Supreme Court's inquiry about the potential for a new Bail Act, the government clarified that the BNSS, which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on July 1, 2024, includes comprehensive provisions related to bail and bail bonds in Chapter XXXV.
In its affidavit, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated, "As the provisions relating to Bail and Bonds in Chapter-XXXV of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 are considered adequate, there is no proposal to bring a separate law on 'Bail.'"
This response follows the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Satender Kumar Antil v. Central Bureau of Investigation, where the Court had suggested the enactment of a dedicated Bail Act to streamline the bail process. The Court had further urged the government to report on the possibility of such a law.
The Court had pointed to the UK's Bail Act, which is a comprehensive law governing bail procedures, and suggested that India should have a similar legal framework. It highlighted the issues of overcrowded prisons, the granting of bail before and after conviction, and the role of both the investigating agency and courts in bail decisions. The Court emphasized the need for a specific bail law, noting that the CrPC was largely based on colonial-era provisions with only modifications made post-independence.
Additionally, the Union Government informed the Court that detailed Guidelines and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the 'Support to Poor Prisoners' Scheme had been issued to States and Union Territories in June 2023. The government recommended that an Empowered Committee be set up at the district level and an Oversight Committee at the state level for the effective implementation of the scheme.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
“Bleeding on the road, I begged for help but no one came”: Bengaluru woman recounts husband’s death
Bengaluru: A woman in Bengaluru has shared a painful account of how her husband died after they were repeatedly denied medical help and ignored by passersby during a medical emergency, NDTV reported.
The victim, 34-year-old Venkataramanan, a garage mechanic from Balaji Nagar, developed severe chest pain around 3.30 am. His wife immediately took him on a motorcycle in search of medical help.
"He complained about chest pain, and we went to the first hospital. However, the doctor was not on duty. At the second hospital, we were told he had a stroke and to go to another hospital. When we called for ambulance services, they did not respond properly. Humanity failed, but we did our bit by donating his eye." NDTV quoted his wife as saying.
According to the report, after being turned away twice, the couple met with an accident on the road. CCTV footage later showed the woman, covered in blood, pleading with folded hands as vehicles passed by, but no one stopped to help.
ALSO READ: Actress Shilpa Shetty's restaurant booked for breaching operating hours
The wait ended after several minutes when a cab driver stopped and rushed Venkataramanan to a nearby hospital. Doctors there declared him dead on arrival.
As per the report, the family decided to donate Venkataramanan’s eyes, giving sight to others even in death.
Venkataraman's mother, who had lost her last surviving child, had no words to express herself: "I have no words. I do not know what to say. My son is gone."
"The government should understand a health emergency. My daughter is left with two children. Who will look after them?" asked his mother-in-law. His wife, mother, and two children, a five-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter now survive Venkataramanan.
The incident has once again raised serious questions about emergency healthcare access, ambulance response, and public apathy in the city.
