Charanjit Kaur v. State Of Punjab
- -
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-41455-2023 (O&M) Date of decision: 28.08.2023 Charanjit Kaur ....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab
...Respondent
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY ***** Present :
Mr. A.S. Brar, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. Manipal Singh Atwal, DAG Punjab ***** AMAN CHAUDHARY. J.
1.
Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.94 dated 05.08.2021, registered under Sections 15 and 25 of NDPS Act (Section 473 IPC added lateron), at Police Station Sadar, Moga, District Moga. 2.
Learned counsel contends that the petitioner is in custody for more than 2 years. The mandatory provisions of Sections 42 and 52 NDPS Act were not complied with. The co-accused of the petitioner i.e. her husband, has been granted anticipatory bail by this Court vide order dated 31.10.2022. Charges have been framed on 24.11.2021, however, out of 16 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined. The petitioner is not involved in any other case. 3.
The custody certificate dated 26.08.2023 has been filed by learned State counsel. As per the same, the petitioner is behind bars for 2 years and 18 days.
- - 4.
Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that she was apprehended at the spot and commercial quantity of contraband has been recovered from her. He is however unable to controvert the submissions with regard to stage of the case, co-accused granted anticipatory bail and the petitioner not being involved in any other case.
5.
Heard.
6.
Hon'ble The Supreme Court in the case of Dheeraj Kumar Shukla vs. The State of Uttar Pradesh, SLP (Criminal) No.6690/2022 decided on 25.01.2023 observed that in a case of long custody period, involving quantity recovered to be of commercial nature, where the trial is yet to commence, though charges had been framed, the condition of Section 37 of NDPS Act can be dispensed with. Similarly, in the case of Shariful Islam @ Sarif vs. The State of West Bengal SLP (Crl.) No.4173/2022, decided on 04.08.2022, Hon'ble The Supreme Court of India 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. In the case of Bhupender Singh vs. Narcotic Control Bureau (2022) 2 RCR (Crl.)
706, the Division Bench of this Court 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. This Court in the case of Balraj Singh vs. State of Punjab CRM-M-57386-2022, decided on 14.12.2022 has followed the dictum laid down by Hon'ble The Supreme Court and granted bail to the petitioner therein after he had undergone total custody of 1 year and 6 months. In the case of Munasi Masih vs.
- - 06.02.2023, this Court granted bail to a first offender from whom commercial quantity of contraband had been recovered and only 2 out of 13 PWs have been examined, by observing that in view of delayed trial, the rigors of Section 37 of NDPS Act can be diluted to an extent and the petitioner can be granted bail, keeping in mind the right to a speedy trial as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
7.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for the last 2 years and 18 days; not involved in any other case; co-accused granted anticipatory bail; charges were framed on 24.11.2021, however, none out of 16 prosecution witnesses, has been examined so far, the trial is likely to take a considerable time, thus further incarceration of the petitioner would be violative of her right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the rigors of Section 37 of NDPS Act can be diluted bearing in mind the righty to a speedy trial, thus, the present petition for grant of regular bail deserves to be allowed.
8.
As a result, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to her furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned and subject to her not being required in any other case. The petitioner 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, she is an accused, or for commission
- - of which she 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 her liberty.
(vii) The petitioner shall furnish her address and mobile number to the Trial Court forthwith and shall not change the same till the conclusion of the trial and in case for any reason, the petitioner seeks to change any of the aforesaid, the same shall be done only with prior intimation to the learned Trial Court, stating the reason for the same.
(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.
9.
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.
10.
In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations made herein are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and would not be construed as an opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations.
(AMAN CHAUDHARY) JUDGE August 28, 2023 M.Kamra Whether speaking/reasoned :
Yes / No Whether reportable :
Yes / No