Gurjant Singh v. State Of Punjab

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Decided on : 25.02.2025 Gurjant Singh . . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab . . . Respondent(s)

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH PRESENT: Mr. Ankur Jain, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Amandeep Singh, DAG, Punjab **** SANJAY VASHISTH, J. (Oral) 1.

Instant petition, under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 482 Cr.P.C.), has been filed for quashing of the order dated 09.08.2023 (Annexure P-4), whereby the petitioner has been declared as 'proclaimed person', on account of his non-appearance in the following FIR:- FIR No.

Date Section(s) Police Station District 11.12.2022 148, 149, 302, 323, 452, 506 of IPC and Mattewal Amritsar.

Sections 25, 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 2.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that as per the prosecution, FIR was registered on the statement of Kamaljit Kaur w/o Gurjit Singh, on account of some labour dispute with the accused persons, including present petitioner. Later on, some accused persons were declared innocent, and the petitioner was also under the impression that he too has been declared as innocent during investigation, as he was never arrested or served any notice by the investigating agency.

- 2 - Further submits that after completion of investigation, challan was submitted against co-accused 'Jaimal Singh'. However, during course of trial, neither complainant nor other material witnesses supported the case of prosecution and thus, turned hostile.

3.

Learned counsel further submits that petitioner was never summoned or arrested by the police, nor any proper procedure was adopted before declaring him proclaimed person, vide order dated 09.08.2023 (P-4). However, when the factum of declaring him as 'proclaimed person' came to the knowledge of the petitioner, he along with his wife approached the complainant and complainant apprised them that she has already suffered a statement in the Court in their favour and has no objection in case FIR is quashed. Besides, she also gave an affidavit in favour of all the accused persons regarding the matter having been settled. In support of his submissions, learned counsel also relies upon the order dated 03.02.2025 (P-6), passed in CRM-M-6331-2025, titled as, "Daljit Kaur v.

State of Punjab", whereby, similar relief (as sought by the petitioner in present petition) has been granted to the similarly situated coaccused. Thus learned counsel submits that in case one opportunity is granted for releasing the petitioner on bail, by protecting him from arrest, the petitioner undertakes that he would not absent himself in future, without there being prior permission from the Court, and fully cooperate for early disposal of the trial.

4.

Notice of motion.

5.

Learned State counsel puts an appearance, and opposes the request of the petitioner by submitting that petitioner does not deserve any sympathy, because, he knowingly evade the proceedings before the trial

- 3 - Court. Learned State counsel further submits that looking at his behaviour, there is no surety that in future, petitioner would not be absent for the purpose of delaying the trial.

6.

In number of cases, wherein, accused stopped appearing in criminal cases, the Courts are compelled to declare accused as 'Proclaimed Person/Proclaimed Offender'. After examining the facts, this Court has formulated a uniform method to ensure the presence of accused before the concerned Court, to enable it to proceed further instead of delaying the proceedings by awaiting the presence of accused. Intentional or unintentional default of the accused can be dealt with by examining the facts from case to case involved, and where it is realised that absence or prolonged absence of such accused is intentional to evade the process of law, he/she can be penalized examining the nature of crime in which he is facing the proceedings and thereupon by imposing some cost amount subject to his/her capacity to pay.

Primary object of every Court is only to examine the commission of crime in question before it viz-a-viz the person/accused, who is subjected to such proceedings, and if possible justice be imparted at the earliest without unnecessary delay. It is not expected that undue time would be devoted in securing the presence of absconded accused and also to waste energy by enforcing the special mechanism to arrest such accused. Considering all such aspects, this Court in the case of Ashish Kumar Honda @ Ashish Handa Vs.

- 4 - accused on each and every date for speeding up the trial for its final conclusion. Already Courts are flooded with so much litigation, resulting in slow pace of work, because of more than one reason. The required energy and manpower be used for expediting the proceedings of the Court, instead of running after the accused persons to get hold of them."

Again, this Court has considered the aforementioned similar plea in case Veena @ Veena Devi v. State of Punjab (CRM-M-2206-2025, decided on 16.01.2025.

7.

I have considered the submissions of both the sides and examined the relevant material available on record. The petitioner has remiss in appearing before the Court only on one date i.e. on 09.08.2023, when impugned order declaring the petitioner 'proclaimed person' has been passed against him. It also cannot be left unnoticed that as and when the petitioner came to know about passing of the impugned order, the petitioner has moved the present petition, showing his inclination to submit himself before the trial Court.

8.

In totality of circumstances, I am of the view that the petitioner can be given one chance to appear before the trial Court, so that proceedings may restart and continue in smooth manner. Accordingly, plea of the petitioner is accepted. Impugned order dated 09.08.2023 (P-4) is set aside to the extent of declaring the petitioner as 'proclaimed person', and he is directed to be released on bail, in the eventuality of surrender by him before the trial Court on or before 12.03.2025.

The petitioner shall also furnish fresh bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court. Besides, petitioner would also submit specific undertaking/affidavit that he will keep appearing during the proceedings of the trial in future and the proceedings would not be delayed because of his conduct.

However, this order shall be subject to the payment of

- 5 - Rs.10,000/- as costs, to be deposited by the petitioner in an Old Age Home of the area, as may be decided by the learned Trial Court. The Trial Court shall also specify the time frame within which such costs will be required to be deposited, but not more than two weeks, failing which this order would not be of any advantage to the petitioner.

9.

With aforementioned terms, present petition stands disposed of. (SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE February 25, 2025 J.Ram Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether Reportable:

Yes/No