Jivtesh Sethi v. State Of Punjab
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4 6 7 This is an application seeking condonation of delay of 172 days in preferring the appeal against the order dated 09.02.2023 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar vide which bail application of the applicant-appellant was rejected.
2.
Learned counsel for the applicant/appellant submits that the applicant is in custody as an undertrial, was not aware about the period of limitation. His family members had later approached the counsel and therefore, the delay has occurred in filing the appeal.
3.
Issue notice in the application to the non-applicant/respondent.
4.
At the asking of the Court, Mr. Aftar Singh Khara, Sr. DAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent.
Heard.
6.
The appeal against an order rejecting the application for bail is provided under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. The period of limitation which is prescribed therein is 30 days which can be condoned up to 90 days with sufficient cause. It has been held by the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in the case of Faizal Hasamali Mirza versus State of Maharashtra and another, 2023 SCC (online) Bom 1936, that the period of 30 days prescribed under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 would be directory in nature as the right to appeal is one of the essential components of Article 21 of the Constitution of India which guarantees protection of life and personal liberty.
It has been held that in case the delay is not condoned then it would deprive the undertrial the right of appeal which is provided by the Statute which impinges on the life and liberty of the under trial as enshrined in the Constitution of India. It was held as under: - "(i) that the Appellate Courts have the power to condone delay beyond the 90 days period, despite the language of the 2nd proviso to Section 21(5) of the NIA Act and that this can be done by virtue of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, the applicability of which is not excluded under the provisions of the NIA Act.
an interlocutory order, passed by a Special Court is maintainable, on sufficient cause being shown;
(ii) that the word `shall' in the 2nd proviso to sub-section (5) of Section 21, be read down, to read as `may', and hence, directory in nature."
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< maintain purity in the course of trial and also to prevent an accused from being a fugitive from justice or to prevent further commission of an offence. Once it is apparent that a timely trial is not possible and the accused has suffered incarceration for a significant period of time, the Court would ordinarily be obligated to enlarge them on bail as any form of deprival of liberty must be proportionate to the facts of the case and also follow a just and fair procedure. A balance must be made between the prosecution's right to lead evidence of its choice and establish the charges beyond any doubt and simultaneously, the respondent's rights guaranteed under Part-III of the Constitution.
$ 7 "This Court has already accepted right of an accused under the said offences of the 1967 Act to be enlarged on bail founding such right on Article 21of the Constitution of India. This was in the case of Najeeb (supra), and in that judgment, long period of incarceration was held to be a valid ground to enlarge an accused on bail in spite of the bailrestricting provision of Section 43D (5) of the 1967 Act. Preconviction detention is necessary to collect evidence (at the investigation stage), to maintain purity in the course of trial and also to prevent an accused from being fugitive from justice. Such detention is also necessary to prevent further commission of offence by the same accused.
Depending on gravity and seriousness of the offence alleged to have been committed by an accused, detention before conclusion of trial at the investigation and post-chargesheet stage has the sanction of law broadly on these reasonings.
7 following a just and fair procedure and such deprival must be proportionate in the facts of a given case. These would be the overarching principles which the law Courts would have to apply while testing prosecution's plea of pre-trial detention, both at investigation and post-chargesheet stage." $ ? 3 > 0'!' 8 0&.& 2 , !" &2 0 '# '! 2 0 &./0
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