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2024 DIGILAW 260 (PNJ)

Jai Singh v. State of Haryana

2024-01-29

KULDEEP TIWARI

body2024
JUDGMENT Mr. Kuldeep Tiwari, J. The amenability of all these petitions, for being decided through a common verdict, emanates from them being arising out of the same FIR, besides emanates from common relief(s) being craved to be reaped therein. 2. Through the instant petitions, the petitioners crave for indulgence of this Court for them being enlarged on regular bail, in case FIR No.195 dated 10.07.2020, under Section 302, 148, 149, 323, 427, 452 of the IPC, registered at P.S. Israna, District Panipat. Allegations Against The Petitioners 3. Succinctly stated, the allegations against the petitioners are that they, while being armed with deadly weapons, entered into the house of complainant and inflicted injuries to him and his family members. The outcome of this assault, was that, the son of the complainant, namely Ankush, succumbed to his injuries, while three of complainant's family members suffered injuries. Submissions Of Learned Counsels For The Petitioners 4. The prime argument of the learned counsels appearing for the petitioners is rested upon parity, as petitioners' co-accused, namely, Rajpal, Sandeep, Ram Karan and Anil, have already been granted the concession of regular bail by Co-ordinate Benches of this Court. 5. The learned counsels appearing for the petitioners have further submitted that not all the petitioners have been nominated as an accused in the FIR, rather some of them, namely, Deepak (petitioner in CRM-M-48946- 2023), Krishan (petitioner in CRM-M-61495-2023) and Ajay (petitioner in CRM-M-43222-2023) came to be nominated as accused subsequently, during the course of investigation. They have further submitted that since the petitioners have been behind the bars since July 2020, and, since the trial is moving at a snail's pace, inasmuch as, only 7 prosecution witnesses, out of total 26 prosecution witnesses, have been examined so far, therefore, the petitioners deserve the concession of bail. Submissions Of The Learned State Counsel And Learned Counsel For The Complainant 6. Per contra, the learned State counsel, who is assisted by the learned counsel for the complainant, by filing replies to the petitions, which are taken on record, has vociferously opposed the grant of regular bail to the petitioners, inter alia, on the ground that, the son of the complainant has lost his life in the brutal assault made by the petitioners. 7. 7. Though the learned State counsel has opposed the grant of bail to the petitioners, however, on instructions imparted to him by A.S.I. Ranbir Singh, he does not contest the factum that pursuant to framing of charges on 19.01.2021, only seven prosecution witnesses, out of total 26 prosecution witnesses, have been examined so far. He also does not dispute the factum qua petitioners' co-accused (supra) being enlarged on bail by Co-ordinate Benches of this Court. Analysis 8. "Bail is the Rule and Jail is an Exception". This basic principle of criminal jurisprudence was laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, way back in 1978, in its landmark judgment titled "State of Rajasthan v. Balchand alias Baliay", 1977 AIR 2447 SC, 1978 SCR (1) 535. This principle finds its roots in one of the most distinguished fundamental rights, as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Though the underlying objective behind detention of a person is to ensure easy availability of an accused for trial, without any inconvenience, however, in case the presence of an accused can be secured otherwise, then detention is not compulsory. 9. The right to a speedy trial is one of the rights of a detained person. However, while deciding application for regular bail, the Courts shall also take into consideration the fundamental precept of criminal jurisprudence, which is "the presumption of innocence", besides the gravity of offence(s) involved. 10. In "Nikesh Tarachand Shah v. Union of India", (2018) 11 SCC 1 , the Hon'ble Supreme Court has recorded the following:- "14. In Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 565 at 586-588, the purpose of granting bail is set out with great felicity as follows:- "27. It is not necessary to refer to decisions which deal with the right to ordinary bail because that right does not furnish an exact parallel to the right to anticipatory bail. In Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 565 at 586-588, the purpose of granting bail is set out with great felicity as follows:- "27. It is not necessary to refer to decisions which deal with the right to ordinary bail because that right does not furnish an exact parallel to the right to anticipatory bail. It is, however, interesting that as long back as in 1924 it was held by the High Court of Calcutta in Nagendra v. King-Emperor [AIR 1924 Calcutta 476, 479, 480 : 25 CriLJ 732] that the object of bail is to secure the attendance of the accused at the trial, that the proper test to be applied in the solution of the question whether bail should be granted or refused is whether it is probable that the party will appear to take his trial and that it is indisputable that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment. In two other cases which, significantly, are the 'Meerut Conspiracy cases' observations are to be found regarding the right to bail which deserve a special mention. In K.N. Joglekar v. Emperor [AIR 1931 Allahabad 504 : 33 CriLJ 94] it was observed, while dealing with Section 498 which corresponds to the present Section 439 of the Code, that it conferred upon the Sessions Judge or the High Court wide powers to grant bail which were not handicapped by the restrictions in the preceding Section 497 which corresponds to the present Section 437. It was observed by the court that there was no hard and fast rule and no inflexible principle governing the exercise of the discretion conferred by Section 498 and that the only principle which was established was that the discretion should be exercised judiciously. In Emperor v. Hutchinson [AIR 1931 Allahabad 356, 358 : 32 CriLJ 1271] it was said that it was very unwise to make an attempt to lay down any particular rules which will bind the High Court, having regard to the fact that the legislature itself left the discretion of the court unfettered. According to the High Court, the variety of cases that may arise from time to time cannot be safely classified and it is dangerous to make an attempt to classify the cases and to say that in particular classes a bail may be granted but not in other classes. According to the High Court, the variety of cases that may arise from time to time cannot be safely classified and it is dangerous to make an attempt to classify the cases and to say that in particular classes a bail may be granted but not in other classes. It was observed that the principle to be deduced from the various sections in the Criminal Procedure Code was that grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception. An accused person who enjoys freedom is in a much better position to look after his case and to properly defend himself than if he were in custody. As a presumably innocent person he is therefore entitled to freedom and every opportunity to look after his own case. A presumably innocent person must have his freedom to enable him to establish his innocence. 28. Coming nearer home, it was observed by Krishna Iyer, J., in Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor [ (1978) 1 SCC 240 : 1978 SCC (Cri) 115] that: (SCC p. 242, para 1) "... the issue of bail is one of liberty, justice, public safety and burden of the public treasury, all of which insist that a developed jurisprudence of bail is integral to a socially sensitized judicial process. ... After all, personal liberty of an accused or convict is fundamental, suffering lawful eclipse only in terms of procedure established by law. The last four words of Article 21 are the life of that human right." 29. In Gurcharan Singh v. State (Delhi Administration) [ (1978) 1 SCC 118 : 1978 SCC (Cri) 41] it was observed by Goswami, J., who spoke for the court, that: (SCC p. 129, para 29) "There cannot be an inexorable formula in the matter of granting bail. The facts and circumstances of each case will govern the exercise of judicial discretion in granting or cancelling bail." 30. In American Jurisprudence (2d, Volume 8, p. 806, para 39), it is stated: "Where the granting of bail lies within the discretion of the court, the granting or denial is regulated, to a large extent, by the facts and circumstances of each particular case. In American Jurisprudence (2d, Volume 8, p. 806, para 39), it is stated: "Where the granting of bail lies within the discretion of the court, the granting or denial is regulated, to a large extent, by the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Since the object of the detention or imprisonment of the accused is to secure his appearance and submission to the jurisdiction and the judgment of the court, the primary inquiry is whether a recognizance or bond would effect that end." It is thus clear that the question whether to grant bail or not depends for its answer upon a variety of circumstances, the cumulative effect of which must enter into the judicial verdict. Any one single circumstance cannot be treated as of universal validity or as necessarily justifying the grant or refusal of bail." 11. Also, in Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, Criminal Appeal No.2271 of 2010, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has insisted upon striking a perfect balance of sanctity of an individual's liberty as well as the interest of the society, in grant or refusing bail. The relevant extract of the judgment (supra) is reproduced hereinafter:- 3. The society has a vital interest in grant or refusal of bail because every criminal offence is the offence against the State. The order granting or refusing bail must reflect perfect balance between the conflicting interests, namely, sanctity of individual liberty and the interest of the society. The law of bails dovetails two conflicting interests namely, on the one hand, the requirements of shielding the society from the hazards of those committing crimes and potentiality of repeating the same crime while on bail and on the other hand absolute adherence of the fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence regarding presumption of innocence of an accused until he is found guilty and the sanctity of individual liberty. 12. This Court has examined the instant petition on the touchstone of the hereinabove extracted settled legal principle(s) of law and is of the considered opinion that the instant petitions are amenable for being allowed. 13. 12. This Court has examined the instant petition on the touchstone of the hereinabove extracted settled legal principle(s) of law and is of the considered opinion that the instant petitions are amenable for being allowed. 13. Though grave allegations are levelled against the petitioners, however, the reason for forming the above inference emanates from the factum that:- (i) petitioners deserve to be treated at par with their co-accused, against whom allegations alike to that of present petitioners have been levelled, and, who have already been granted the concession of bail by Co-ordinate Benches of this Court; (ii) the trial is moving at a snail's pace, as admittedly only seven prosecution witnesses, out of total twenty six prosecution witnesses, have been examined so far, therefore, keeping the petitioners behind bars, who have been behind the bars since July 2020, would serve no gainful purpose. Final Order 14. Considering the hereinabove made discussion, this Court deems it appropriate to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioners. Therefore, without commenting upon the merits and circumstances of the present case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioners are ordered to be released on bail on furnishing of bail bond and surety bond to the satisfaction of concerned Chief Judicial Magistrate/trial Court/Duty Magistrate. 15. It is clarified that anything observed here-in-above shall have no effect on the merits of the trial and is meant for deciding the present petition only. 16. Also, liberty is reserved in favour of State/complainant to move an appropriate application for cancellation/recall of this order, in case the petitioners try to impede the trial, or, extend any threat to the prosecution witnesses.