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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 13/01/2026

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (13-01-2026).

Q. Overcrowding of prisons in India is largely a result of an excessive number of undertrial prisoners. Examine the significance of recent judicial interventions in this regard, with special reference to Assam. (15 marks)

Introduction

Prison overcrowding remains a persistent challenge in India’s criminal justice system, primarily due to the disproportionately high number of undertrial prisoners, many of whom are incarcerated for prolonged periods without conviction. Recognising this structural injustice, recent judicial interventions, including directions for the release of eligible undertrials on Personal Recognisance (PR) bonds, have sought to restore the constitutional balance between liberty and procedure, with visible impact in Assam.

Body

A. Causes of Prison Overcrowding

High Undertrial Population: Delays in investigation and trial prolong incarceration.
Socio-economic Inequality: Poor accused often remain in jail due to inability to furnish sureties.
Procedural Rigidity: Mechanical denial of bail in minor offences.
Judicial Backlog: Pendency of cases leads to prolonged detention without adjudication.

B. Significance of Judicial Intervention

Upholding Article 21: The Supreme Court reaffirmed that deprivation of liberty merely due to poverty violates the right to life and dignity.
“Bail, not Jail” Principle: Release on PR bonds operationalises this long-standing judicial doctrine.
Humanisation of Criminal Justice: Focus shifts from punitive detention to fairness and proportionality.
Institutional Accountability: Courts compelled prison and police authorities to review undertrial cases proactively.

C. Impact in Assam

Tangible Reduction in Overcrowding: Nearly 400 undertrials released from Guwahati Central Jail alone.
Improved Prison Conditions: Several central jails now operate within or below sanctioned capacity.
Administrative Relief: Reduced strain on prison infrastructure, staff, and healthcare facilities.
Governance Lesson: Demonstrates how judicial oversight can correct systemic executive inertia.

D. Limitations and Continuing Challenges

Structural Delays Persist: Bail reform alone cannot resolve trial delays.
Absence of Post-Release Monitoring: Risk of absconding, though often overstated.
Inconsistent Application: Relief depends on judicial awareness and local implementation.
Policing Practices: Unnecessary arrests continue, especially for minor offences.

E. Way Forward

Statutory Bail Guidelines: Uniform, mandatory consideration of PR bonds for petty offences.
Fast-Track Courts: Dedicated benches for long-pending undertrial cases.
Strengthen Legal Aid: Proactive intervention by Legal Services Authorities inside prisons.
Alternatives to Incarceration: Probation, community service, and summons-based procedures.
Data-Driven Prison Management: Periodic undertrial reviews using real-time data.

Conclusion

The recent judicial push to release undertrial prisoners on PR bonds marks a normative shift from procedural incarceration to constitutional justice. Assam’s experience illustrates that meaningful reform is possible when courts actively defend liberty against systemic inertia. However, sustainable decongestion of prisons demands holistic criminal justice reform, encompassing policing, prosecution, trial efficiency, and social equity. Only then can prisons cease to be sites of injustice and become instruments of reform.h disaster resilience and capacity building, it sets a replicable model for inclusive, decentralised, and development-oriented space governance in India.social harmony in the Northeast.

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