Gurlal Singh v. State Of Punjab

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 24.04.2026 Gurlal Singh ....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab

...Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY ***** Present :

Mr. Rishu Mahajan, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Manipal Singh Atwal, DAG, Punjab.

***** AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL) 1.

Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 483 BNSS is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.262 dated 01.11.2024, registered under Sections 21-C/61 of the NDPS Act, at Police Station Gharinda, District Amrisar.

2.

Learned counsel contends that the petitioner has been in custody for 1 year, 5 months, 18 days. The alleged recovery has been effected from the polythene bag which is 2 kgs. 500 of heroin. There is non-compliance of mandatory provisions of Sections 42 and 50 of the NDPS Act. No independent witness has been joined at the time of recovery. Charges have been framed on 26.09.2025, however, none, out of 13 PWs, has been examined. He is not involved in any other case.

3.

Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that commercial quantity of contraband has been recovered from the petitioner, who was apprehended at the spot. However, he is unable to controvert the submissions with regard to custody, stage and the petitioner being not involved in any other case.

4.

Heard.

5.

Hon'ble The Supreme Court in Shariful Islam @ Sarif versus The State of West Bengal SLP (Crl.) No.4173/2022, decided on 04.08.2022,

granted bail to the petitioner in a case of recovery of commercial quantity of contraband, considering incarceration for over 1 year and 6 months and there being no likelihood of completion of trial in the near future, while the Division Bench of this Court in Bhupender Singh vs. Narcotic Control Bureau (2022) 2 RCR (Crl.) 706, observed with regard to achieving balance between right to speedy trial guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and rigors of Section 37 of NDPS Act.

6.

This Court in the case of Balraj Singh vs. State of Punjab CRM-M57386-2022, on 14.12.2022 has followed the dictum laid down by Hon'ble The Supreme Court and granted the bail to the petitioner therein after he had undergone total custody of 1 year and 6 months and in Munasi Masih vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-31504-2022, on 06.2.2023, wherein commercial quantity of contraband had been recovered but only 2 out of 13 PWs had been examined, allowed bail.

7.

In Sarabjeet Singh @ Sarbi vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M7182023, decided on 24.03.2023, Gursant Singh @ Santu vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-37944-2020, decided on 07.09.2021, the recovery, as in the present case, was effected from a transparent polythene bag wherein the accused was granted bail. This Court granted bail in Tajinder Singh vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-8212-2022, alleged recovery was of 270 grams of heroin and the accused was behind bars since 7 months and Ladwinder Singh @ Laddi vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-44383-2022, wherein the recovery was of 2kgs. 700 grams opium and the accused remain in custody for 9 months. 8.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for the last 1 year, 5 months and 18 days; not involved in any other case; charges stands framed on 26.09.2025, however, out of 13, none has been examined, the trial is likely to take a considerable time; further incarceration of the petitioner would be violative of his right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act can be diluted bearing in mind the right to a speedy trial, the present petition is allowed.

9.

The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned, if not required in any other case and shall abide by the following

conditions:- (i) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

(ii) The petitioner will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The petitioner will appear before the trial Court on each and every date fixed, unless is exempted by a specific order of Court.

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which, he is an accused, or for commission of which he is suspected of.

(v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly coerce, induce, threaten or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/ her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence in any manner.

(vi) The petitioner shall not in any manner misuse his liberty.

(vii) The petitioner shall furnish his address and mobile number by way of an affidavit to the trial Court and not change the same till conclusion of trial and if for any reasons, he seeks to change either of the aforesaid, it shall be done only with prior information to the learned trial Court.

(viii) The petitioner shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial Court.

(ix) The trial Court/Duty Magistrate may impose any other condition, as deemed appropriate while releasing the petitioner.

10.

It is made abundantly clear that in case there is any breach of the aforesaid conditions, the State shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail as granted to the petitioner by this order.

11.

In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations made herein above are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and would not be construed as any opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations. (AMAN CHAUDHARY) JUDGE 24.04.2026 ashok Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes / No Whether reportable :

Yes / No