Ex-CJI D.Y. Chandrachud on Umar Khalid Case: 'Lost Years in Jail Cannot Be Compensated'

On this Special Report, the focus is on significant remarks made by the former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, regarding the incarceration of under-trial prisoners. Speaking at the 'Ideas of Justice' session during the Jaipur Literature Festival, the former CJI addressed the Umar Khalid case, stating as a citizen that 'if a person remains in jail as an under trial prisoner for 5 or 7 years and is finally acquitted, the lost years cannot be compensated.' He emphasized that the foundation of Indian law rests on the presumption of innocence and reiterated that bail should be the rule rather than the exception. Chandrachud outlined three specific conditions under which bail can be refused: danger to society, risk of absconding, or potential tampering with evidence. The discussion highlights the legal and human rights concerns surrounding long-term imprisonment without conviction, particularly in high-profile cases that have sparked national debate over judicial processes and the rights of the accused.