New Delhi, March 15 (IANS): In a public interest litigation (PIL) taken up on its own, the Delhi High Court on Friday asked the state government to file a speedy response in the cases of seven undertrials pending in various lower courts.

The order by a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A.J. Bhambani came on a PIL initiated on five letters sent by the undertrials -- facing trial for cases ranging from murder to drug possession and also under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The court has posted the next hearing for August 13.

Ujair Ahmed, one of the undertrials who wrote to the court, was arrested in 2013 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the UAPA. He is lodged in Rohini Jail.

Another undertrial Imran Khan, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, was arrested by the NIA in July 2016. He wrote to the court that there was no progress in his case since the filing of the charge sheet.

Shahjahan, Mohammad Sajid and Sattar are facing trial in a drug possession and trafficking case since 2014. They are lodged in Tihar Jail.

Shahabuddin is facing trial in a 2015 murder case, while the seventh, Shankar is facing trial in a 2014 rape case. He is also lodged in Tihar Jail.