Despite Supreme Court orders to expedite the release of undertrial prisoners, the situation remains unchanged. Courts frequently acquit individuals who have spent years in jail awaiting trial, often due to lack of evidence or false accusations. This raises the critical question: who will account for the time innocent individuals spend incarcerated? The legal system currently lacks provisions for compensation. In one Uttar Pradesh case, despite being granted bail, a prisoner was not released, prompting the Supreme Court to order authorities to compensate him with ₹5 lakh.
