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Sonadhar Petitioner(s) v. State Of Chhattisgarh (s).
Factual and Procedural Background
The Supreme Court heard two connected Special Leave Petitions (Criminal) on 1 March 2021 before Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hemant Gupta.
- SLP (Crl.) No. 529/2021 – Sonadhar v. State of Chhattisgarh: The matter emanates from a conviction affirmed by the High Court of Chhattisgarh (CRA No. 118/2008, decided 19-10-2012). During the hearing, the Court considered broader systemic issues concerning the provision of legal aid and remission policies for convicts who have served their minimum mandatory sentences.
- SLP (Crl.) No. 514/2021: The petitioner had already undergone the substantive sentence of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under the NDPS Act and about six months of the default sentence imposed in lieu of non-payment of fine. The petitioner was unable to pay the fine.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the Court should mandate the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to formulate uniform, country-wide guidelines on (a) consideration of remission after completion of minimum sentences, (b) framing of remission policies for narcotics offences, and (c) timely provision of legal aid, especially in jail petitions.
- In SLP (Crl.) No. 514/2021, whether the default sentence of one year for non-payment of fine should be substituted with the period of six months already undergone, given the petitioner’s inability to pay.
- The merits of the petitioner’s challenge under Section 50 of the NDPS Act (listed for a later, non-miscellaneous hearing).
Arguments of the Parties
The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the parties' legal arguments.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
- The bench acknowledged practical difficulties faced by prisoners seeking remission and timely legal assistance. It concluded that a standardized framework is necessary to ensure uniformity across States.
- NALSA was considered the appropriate body to investigate these issues and draft comprehensive guidelines. The Court noted that such a report, once vetted, could obtain the Court’s imprimatur for nationwide application.
- The Court directed exploration of a software solution developed by a Haryana convict, Amit Mishra, already found useful by the State of Haryana, for possible country-wide use.
- Recognising delays in extending legal aid in jail petitions filed directly in the Supreme Court, the Court instructed the concerned Registrar to coordinate with NALSA to streamline this process.
- In SLP (Crl.) No. 514/2021, the Court observed that the petitioner had served ten years (the substantive sentence) and about six months of the default sentence. Given his inability to pay the fine, the bench found it appropriate to substitute the remaining default sentence with the period already undergone.
Holding and Implications
Interim Directions: NALSA is tasked with preparing comprehensive guidelines on remission and legal aid; the Registrar of the Supreme Court must liaise with NALSA to address delays in jail petitions. The matter is listed for further consideration on 19-04-2021.
Sentence Modification: In SLP (Crl.) No. 514/2021, the one-year default sentence for non-payment of fine is substituted with the six months already undergone, and the petitioner is ordered to be released forthwith.
Implications include the prospect of uniform remission procedures nationwide and improved, timely legal assistance for incarcerated individuals. No new judicial precedent on substantive law was set, but the directions may influence administrative practices across all States.
1. We have heard learned counsel for the parties, including Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, Ms. Liz Mathew, Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Mr. Sumeer Sodhi and Mr. Neeraj Kumar Jain, learned senior counsel.
2. The suggestions have been placed before us by three of the assisting counsels and it is agreed that all the five counsels will discuss between themselves if these suggestions need any additions or improvements.
3. We are of the view that the National Legal Services Authority [NALSA] should take up the task of having a comprehensive guideline in this behalf i.e. how the matter of seeking remission after serving minimum sentence as per the respective State policies should be dealt with, whether in narcotics matters there should be a policy and if so, to what effect, how in matters of lesser sentence can legal assistance be provided when the cause arises rather than years later etc. Once the NALSA examines this issue and gives us a comprehensive report, subject to any suggestions of the Court, it may receive the imprimatur of the Court for a uniform application all over the country.
4. We are also informed in the aforesaid behalf that one of the detenus/convicts in Haryana one Shri Amit Mishra has prepared a software which the State Government of Haryana itself thought is worth implementing and is supposed to be quite comprehensive. The feasibility of adopting that on a country wide basis with modifications, if any, can also be explored.
5. One other aspect pointed out to us is that at times there are cases directly received by the Supreme Court from the jail and these are registered as jail cases but there appears to be a time lag between the registration of the case and the legal assistance being rendered in this behalf.
6. We call upon the concerned Registrar dealing with this issue to interact with NALSA in this behalf, so that, that aspect can also be ironed out.
7. List on 19.04.2021.
SLP(Crl) No. 514/2021
8. De-tagged.
9. The only point on merit urged by learned counsel for the petitioner is arising from the provisions of Section 50 of the NDPS Act.
10. List for hearing on this aspect on a non-miscellaneous Tuesday.
11. Insofar the other aspect in the present case is concerned, the admitted position is that the petitioner has served out the sentence of 10 years and has even served out about 6 months against the alternative sentence of one year for non-payment of fine, which he is unable to so pay.
12. In the given facts of the case, we consider appropriate to substitute the sentence of one year against non-payment of fine by the sentence of about 6 months, which the petitioner has already undergone and thus, the petitioner should be accordingly set free.
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Item No. 23
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 529/2021
(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 19-10-2012 in CRA No. 118/2008 passed by the High Court of Chhatisgarh At Bilaspur)
Sonadhar.….Petitioner(s)
v.
The State of Chhattisgarh.….Respondent(s)
(FOR ADMISSION AND I.R. MR. GAURAV AGRAWAL, ADVOCATE FOR NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
IA No. 129912/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 28195/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 14743/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.
IA No. 14741/2021 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES)
SLP(Crl) No. 514/2021 (II-C)
(Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Advocate (Amicus Curiae) FOR PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES ON IA 10234/2021 IA No. 10234/2021 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES)
Date : 01-03-2021 These matters were called on for hearing today.
(Before Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hemant Gupta, JJ.)
Mr. Neeraj Kumar Jain, AC
Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Adv. ACuriae
For Petitioner(s) Ms. Liz Mathew, AOR
For Respondent(s) Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, AOR
Mr. Sumeer Sodhi, AOR
Mr. Hussain Ali, Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
SLP(Crl.) No. 529/2021
13. We have heard learned counsel for the parties, including Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, Ms. Liz Mathew, Mr. Devansh A. Mohta, Mr. Sumeer Sodhi and Mr. Neeraj Kumar Jain, learned senior counsel.
14. The suggestions have been placed before us by three of the assisting counsels and it is agreed that all the five counsels will discuss between themselves if these suggestions need any additions or improvements.
15. We are of the view that the National Legal Services Authority [NALSA] should take up the task of having a comprehensive guideline in this behalf i.e. how the matter of seeking remission after serving minimum sentence as per the respective State policies should be dealt with, whether in narcotics matters there should a policy and if so, to what effect, how in matters of lesser sentence can legal assistance be provided when the cause arises rather than years later etc. Once the NALSA examines this issue and gives us a comprehensive report, subject to any suggestions of the Court, it may receive the imprimatur of the Court for a uniform application all over the country.
16. We are also informed in the aforesaid behalf that one of the detenus/convicts in Haryana one Shri Amit Mishra has prepared a software which the State Government of Haryana itself thought is worth implementing and is supposed to be quite comprehensive. The feasibility of adopting that on a country wide basis with modifications, if any, can also be explored.
17. One other aspect pointed out to us is that at times there are cases directly received by the Supreme Court from the jail and these are registered as jail cases but there appears to be a time lag between the registration of the case and the legal assistance being rendered in this behalf.
18. We call upon the concerned Registrar dealing with this issue to interact with NALSA in this behalf, so that, that aspect can also be ironed out.
19. List on 19.04.2021.
SLP(Crl) No. 514/2021
20. The only point on merit urged by learned counsel for the petitioner is arising from the provisions of Section 50 of the NDPS Act.
21. List for hearing on this aspect on a non-miscellaneous Tuesday.
22. Insofar the other aspect in the present case is concerned, the admitted position is that the petitioner has served out the sentence of 10 years and has even served out about 6 months against the alternative sentence of one year for non-payment of fine, which he is unable to so pay.
23. In the given facts of the case, we consider appropriate to substitute the sentence of one year against non-payment of fine by the sentence of about 6 months, which the petitioner has already undergone and thus, the petitioner should be accordingly set free.
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