Supreme Court Clarifies Remarks on Odisha Judiciary in Bail Conditions Case
The Supreme Court has clarified that its earlier remarks criticising Odisha courts over humiliating bail conditions for Dalit and Adivasi accused were not aimed at any individual judge, while reiterating that such conditions are degrading, unconstitutional, and reflective of a colonial mindset.
Verdicto News Desk 
New Delhi, May 11: The Supreme Court on Monday clarified that its earlier observations criticising Odisha courts for imposing humiliating bail conditions on Dalit and Adivasi accused should not be construed as casting aspersions on any High Court judge or judicial officer in the state.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the clarification while hearing a suo motu case concerning controversial bail conditions that required accused persons from Dalit and tribal communities to clean police stations.
Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that the court’s earlier remarks should not be interpreted as adverse comments against individual judges, noting that such an understanding could have a demoralising effect on the judiciary.
The matter was ultimately disposed of after the Supreme Court took note of a compliance report submitted by the Registrar General of the Orissa High Court.
The apex court had initiated the suo motu proceedings after media reports highlighted several bail orders passed by courts in Odisha directing accused persons, many belonging to Dalit and Adivasi communities, to clean police stations for two months as a condition for bail.
According to reports, the directions were issued in cases related to anti-mining protests in Odisha. Around eight such orders were reportedly passed between May 2025 and January 2026. Seven of them were issued by courts in Rayagada district, while one order was passed by the High Court.
Of the eight accused persons involved, six reportedly belonged to Dalit communities and two were Adivasis.
Earlier, on May 4, the Supreme Court had strongly criticised the practice, terming the conditions “obnoxious” and reflective of a “colonial mindset.”
The court had observed that such conditions were degrading, humiliating and violative of human rights.
“We are deeply disappointed and disheartened, and express our strongest disapproval at the manner in which the Odisha State judiciary has, in fact, regressed to a colonial mindset by imposing such onerous, degrading and humiliating conditions,” the bench had remarked earlier.
The court had further stated that such bail conditions undermine the dignity of accused persons and wrongly proceed on an assumption of guilt, which is impermissible under law.
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