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2022 DIGILAW 367 (HP)

Sudhir Kumar, Son of Sh. Husan Chand v. State Of Himachal Pradesh

2022-07-05

SATYEN VAIDYA

body2022
ORDER : Petitioner has approached this Court for grant of bail under Section 439 Cr.P.C. in case FIR No.267/2021, dated 26.11.2021, under Section 21 of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances, Act (for short ‘ND&PS Act’), registered at Police Station Baddi, District Solan, H.P. 2. Petitioner is in custody since 29.04.2022. 3. On the intervening night of 25/26-11-2021, police officials of Police Station Baddi, District Solan, H.P., while on routine patrol duty, intercepted a Tempo bearing registration No. HP-93-3189 near Amit Engineering Company. Petitioner was driving the Tempo. On search of the Tempo 15 bottles filled with syrup and without any label were recovered. The case was registered and bottles were sent for chemical analysis. As per report of laboratory, the contents found in the bottles included Codine Phosphate. The total weight of syrup was found to be 1.837 Kgs., which as per ND&PS Act is commercial quantity. 4. On receipt of the report from the laboratory, petitioner was arrested on 28.04.2022 and remained in police custody till 02.05.2022, whereafter, he was remanded to judicial custody. Petitioner is in judicial custody till date. 5. Challan has been filed after completion of investigation and is pending before learned Special Judge, Nalagarh, District Solan, H.P. 6. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned Additional Advocate General and have also gone through the status report as well as record of the case. 7. The quantity of contraband recovered in the case is commercial quantity, hence, rigors of Section 37 of ND&PS Act, are applicable. 8. In State of Kerala and others Vs. Rajesh and others, (2020) 12 Supreme Court Cases 122, it has been held as under: "19. The scheme of Section 37reveals that the exercise of power to grant bail is not only subject to the limitations contained under Section 439 of the Cr.PC, but is also subject to the limitation placed by Section 37 which commences with non-obstante clause. The operative part of the said section is in the negative form prescribing the enlargement of bail to any person accused of commission of an offence under the Act, unless twin conditions are satisfied. The first condition is that the prosecution must be given an opportunity to oppose the application; and the second, is that the Court must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence. The first condition is that the prosecution must be given an opportunity to oppose the application; and the second, is that the Court must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence. If either of these two conditions is not satisfied, the ban for granting bail operates. 20. The expression “reasonable grounds” means something more than prima facie grounds. It contemplates substantial probable causes for believing that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence. The reasonable belief contemplated in the provision requires existence of such facts and circumstances as are sufficient in themselves to justify satisfaction that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence. In the case on hand, the High Court seems to have completely overlooked the underlying object of Section 37 that in addition to the limitations provided under the CrPC, or any other law for the time being in force, regulating the grant of bail, its liberal approach in the matter of bail under the NDPS Act is indeed uncalled for." 9. Similarly, in Satpal Singh Vs. State of Punjab (2018) 13 Supreme Court Cases 813, the three Judges Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court has held as under: "3. Under Section 37of the NDPS Act, when a person is accused of an offence punishable under Section 19or 24 or 27A and also for offences involving commercial quantity, he shall not be released on bail unless the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such release, and in case a Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person is not guilty of the alleged offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail. Materials on record are to be seen and the antecedents of the accused is to be examined to enter such a satisfaction. These limitations are in addition to those prescribed under the Cr.P.C or any other law in force on the grant of bail. In view of the seriousness of the offence, the law makers have consciously put such stringent restrictions on the discretion available to the court while considering application for release of a person on bail. It is unfortunate that the provision has not been noticed by the High Court. In view of the seriousness of the offence, the law makers have consciously put such stringent restrictions on the discretion available to the court while considering application for release of a person on bail. It is unfortunate that the provision has not been noticed by the High Court. And it is more unfortunate that the same has not been brought to the notice of the Court.” 10. Thus, in the teeth of Section 37 of ND&PS Act, accused can be released on bail in cases involving commercial quantity of contraband, if all three conditions are satisfied, viz. opportunity of opposing the bail is granted to the prosecutor, the Court records satisfaction to the effect that there are reasonable grounds for believing the accused not guilty of such offence and that he/she with certainty can be believed not to commit the same offence during the period of bail. 11. Coming to the facts of the case, petitioner was found in conscious possession of commercial quantity of contraband. There was none other in the Tempo driven by the petitioner. Thus, it is not a case where there is no prima facie material against the petitioner, therefore, this Court is not in a position to record satisfaction to the effect that there are reasonable grounds for believing the accused not guilty of offence under ND&PS Act involving commercial quantity. 12. Keeping in view the entirety of circumstances, petitioner is not entitled to be released on bail. Accordingly, the instant petition is dismissed. 13. Any observation made here-in-above shall not be taken as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case and the trial court shall decide the matter uninfluenced by any observation made here-in-above.