India, Feb. 17 -- The Supreme Court on Monday ordered high courts across the country to provide data on the number of criminal appeals where persons are still languishing in jail without getting bail.

The court sought the data while hearing a suo motu petition on release of undertrials languishing in jail and for taking up premature release cases of life convicts entitled for release after undergoing a minimum of 14 years sentence under various state jail manuals.

"We direct registrar generals of all high courts to submit data on the number of appeals against conviction and appeals against acquittal pending before single judge and division benches," a bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said.

The bench also told high...