PUDR welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Dr. Binayak Sen in the case that resulted in the noted civil rights activist being confined for over two years in Raipur jail on charges of sedition and participation in ‘unlawful activities’ levelled by the Chhattisgarh government.
In reading out the order, it is pertinent to note that the Supreme court judge specifically commented upon the long period of incarceration for an under trial stating ‘two years is too much, before passing the instruction ‘bail granted.’
Follwing this order, Dr. Sen is finally ready to step out of jail and resume his personal and professional commitments that have been seriously hampered as a result of the long drawn imprisonment. While the bail order is undoubtedly a timely reprieve for Dr. Sen who has been suffering on account of poor health in the course of the last few months, the trial and the dangers of a long drawn legal battle however continues to loom. It is also pertinent to note that the case in which Dr. Sen has been granted bail, also has Piyush Guha a business man and Narayan Sanyal a central committee member of the CPI(ML) as co-accused.
In therefore welcoming the order for release announced by the Supreme Court today, PUDR would like the present order for bail to be applied equally in case of the other two accused. In addition it would also urge the State of Chattisgarh to exercise legal restraint and refrain from activities that affect in any way the free movement, privacy and health of all accused and their families.
Signed
Gautam Navlakha and Moushumi Basu
Secretaries
pudr@pudr.org
