30
Apr
New Delhi, April 30, 2025 – In a major step towards decongesting prisons and upholding the rights of undertrial prisoners, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all states and Union Territories to implement Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. This move is aimed at easing pressure on correctional facilities and ensuring more humane treatment for those awaiting trial.Section 479 outlines specific guidelines for releasing undertrials who have served a significant portion of their potential sentence. Under this section, prisoners who have spent half of the maximum sentence prescribed for their alleged offence are eligible…