The Bombay high court today granted six weeks' time to Maharashtra government to inform it about steps being taken to ensure that video conference facilities were in place in jails for producing accused before courts through this system.

The order was given by a bench headed by Justice P V Hardas on a bunch of PILs which alleged that the accused were not produced in courts due to inadequate or lack of escort services by police resulting in delayed justice to them.

The state said it had already introduced the video conference system in jails but the project had not been completed.

The government sought six months time to file a reply to the PILs but the court allowed only six weeks, saying the issue was important and should be quickly addressed.

The court called upon the Maharashtra State Electricity Board to assist the judicial system by assuring power supply in jails for the purpose of video conference.