Archive · 2 Dec 2025
India's Prisoners of Conscience and Delayed Justice
In India, many people are kept in jail for a long time without being convicted of any crime.
This is especially true for those accused under a strict law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The article talks about how the legal system makes these people wait for years, which is a form of punishment itself.
The author, a lawyer, explains that this is not just about one or two people but about how the country treats its citizens.
He mentions several cases, including that of Anand Teltumbde, who wrote a book about his time in prison.
The article also discusses how the courts move quickly for some people, like famous TV anchors or politicians, but very slowly for those who are seen as dissenters.
This shows that justice in India works at two different speeds.
The author argues that this situation is not only unfair but also dangerous for democracy, as it makes people forget about the rights of the accused.
Nearly 73.5% of India's prisoners are undertrials, meaning they have not been convicted of any crime.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is often used to detain political prisoners for extended periods.
The Supreme Court has been hearing bail petitions for several accused in the Delhi riots of 2020, with hearings stretching over months.
The legal system in India often delays justice for dissenters while providing swift relief for the influential.
Anand Teltumbde's memoir highlights the psychological and physical toll of prolonged incarceration on prisoners of conscience.
- Who
- Prisoners of conscience in India, including Anand Teltumbde, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shifa-ur-Rehman
- What
- The prolonged incarceration and delayed justice for undertrials and political prisoners in India
- When
- Ongoing, with recent hearings in October and November 2023, and cases stretching back to 2018 and 2020
- Where
- India, with a focus on the Supreme Court and various prisons
- Why
- Due to the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the politics of delay in the judicial process
- Author
- Sahil Hussain Choudhury
- Main Subject
- Prisoners of Conscience in India
- Key Law
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
- Percentage of Undertrials
- 73.5%
- Notable Cases
- Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-ur-Rehman
- Constitutional Article
- Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty)
- Author's Book
- The Cell and the Soul: A Prison Memoir
- Anand Teltumbde's Incarceration Duration
- 31 months