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The Supreme Court on Monday allowed ad-interim bail to 97 prisoners in Agra and Varanasi jails for the last 20 years in violation of the premature release mentioned in the 2018 state policy.

A divisional bench of Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice JK Maheshwari noted, "they shall be released on ad interim bail subject to the terms and conditions to be imposed by the Trial Court to its satisfaction."

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the 2021 amendment to the 2018 policy alleging that there is a violation of rights of the convicts as the release is only being allowed to convicts who have attained the age of 60 years.

The plea further submitted that the authorities should consider the policy that was in place at the time of conviction and not the policy which is there at the time of considering their premature release.

Case Title: Ramji Dubey & Ors. Vs. State of UP & Anr.