JUDGMENT

ORDER — We have heard counsel for the parties at length and have also gone through the Reports and documents filed by the petitioners. In view of the fact that the counsel for the respondents are more or less agreed to the order we propose to pass, it is not necessary to go into further details.

2. The facts as gleaed from the Reports and documents reveal a most shocking state of affairs in the region in question. It seems that a very large number of people have been languishing in jails without trial for petty offences. Though most of the said people are alleged to have been released but the main infirmity has not been cured. Without going into further details, we dispose of the petitions in terms of the following order :

"(1) In all cases instituted against the adivasi accused concerned which involve sentence of 7 years or more they will be entitled to be released on consideration of merit by the court concerned only on executing a personal bond. These cases will be disposed of on merits expeditiously.

(2) In the other cases where trial has already started and which do not come within the first category, indicated above, the accused will be entitled to be released on bail o