Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Political Science

Chapter

Rights In The Indian Constitution

Question:

Who intervened to secure Machal Lalung's release?

Options:

Supreme Court

Local police

National Human Rights Commission

His family

Correct Answer:

National Human Rights Commission

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 3  - National Human Rights Commission

Important incidents related to Machal Lalung's life:


Machal Lalung was charged with causing grievous injuries.
Machal Lalung was a resident of Chuburi village in the Morigaon district of Assam.
Machal Lalung was sent to Lok Priya Gopinath Bordoloi Mental Hospital because he was found mentally too unstable to stand trial.
Doctors wrote twice to jail authorities in 1967 and 1996 that Machal was fit to stand trial.
Machal Lalung was released in July 2005 at the age of 77, having spent 54 years in custody.
Machal Lalung was freed when a team appointed by the National Human Rights Commission intervened after an inspection of undertrials in the State.
Machal Lalung was released in July 2005 and was 77 years old at that time.

 

Machal Lalung was 23 when he was arrested. A resident of Chuburi village of Morigaon district of Assam, Machal was charged of causing grievous injuries. He was found mentally too unstable to stand trial and was sent as under trial to Lok Priya Gopinath Bordoloi Mental Hospital in Tejpur for treatment. Machal was treated successfully and doctors wrote twice to jail authorities in 1967 and 1996 that he was fit to stand trial. But no one paid any attention. Machal Lalung remained in “judicial custody.’’ Machal Lalung was released in July 2005. He was 77 then. He spent 54 years under custody during which his case never came up for hearing. He was freed when a team appointed by the National Human Rights Commission intervened after an inspection of undertrials in the State.

Machal’s entire life was wasted because a proper trial against him never took place. Our Constitution gives every citizen the right to ‘life and liberty’: this means that every citizen must also have the right to fair and speedy trial. Machal’s case shows what happens when rights granted by the Constitution are not available in practice.