Rajasthan High Court - Jaipur
Ganesh Raj vs State Of Rajasthan on 2 March, 2005
Equivalent citations: RLW2005(2)RAJ831, 2005(2)WLC259
JUDGMENT Narendra Kumar Jain, J.
1. The petitioner has filed this second bail application under Section 438 Cr.P.C. before this Court on 7.2.2005 after dismissal of his first bail application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. on 1.2.2005.
2. One Shri Harpreet Singh, an official of Municipal Board, Hanumangarh Town, lodged a FIR on 18th September, 2004 at Police Station, Vishwakarma, Jaipur wherein it was alleged that on 17th September, 2004 he alongwith Mr. Madan Singh Budhaniya, Executive Officer, Municipal Board, Hanumangarh was travelling in the bus of Sharma Travels from Hanumangarh to Jaipur alongwith two bags of record containing 41 files in one bag and six files in another bag. During the journey, one sumit, member of Municipal Board also came in the said bus at Bus Stand, Pallu. When they reached Jaipur, then he saw that both the bags were missing. During investigation, some evidence came on record that Sumit took some files from the bus and gave to the petitioner, who was travelling in car.
3. Being apprehended with the arrest, the petitioner moved a bail application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. before the Sessions Judge, Jaipur City and the same was dismissed vide order dated 23.11.2004. Thereafter, the petitioner moved S.B. Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 5795/2004 under Section 438 Cr.P.C. before this Court. The case diary was summoned in the matter and the argument were heard. The involvement of the petitioner was found in the inc dent and because of the fact that recovery of the files were to be made, the bail application of the petitioner was dismissed by this Court on 1.2.2005.
4. This second Bail Application hearing S.B. Cr. Misc. IInd Bail Application No. 783/2005 was filed on 7.2.2005 and the same was listed on 8.2.2005. During course of arguments, a question arose a to whether second bail application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not? The time was sought by the learned counsel for the petitioner, which was allowed. Thereafter arguments were heard and concluded from both the sides.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner has cited number of judgments of this Court to show that Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. are being entertained and they have been allowed also. Some judgments are to the effect wherein Second and Fourth Bail Applications Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. were allowed but, there was no discussion as to whether the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not? In some cases, an objection was raised about the maintainability of the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. and it was held that in the changed circumstances, the Second Bail Application can be entertained.
6. This Court in other cases has taken a view that Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable.
7(i) In the case of Ramgopal v. State of Rajasthan, 1983 Cr.L.R. (Raj.) p. 217 = 1983 RLW 270, the said question was considered and after discussion, it was held that on change of circumstances, subsequent or Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable.
7(ii) In Babulal v. State of Rajasthan , 2004(3) R.Cr.D. 504 (Raj.), this Court considered the issue as to whether the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not? This Court held that Second Bail Application for anticipatory bail Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable only on the basis of new facts and in the changed circumstances.
7(iii) In the case of Vishnu Nath Mathur v. State of Rajasthan , 2004(1) R.Cr.D. 63(Raj.), this question was again considered as to whether Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not and after considering the issue, it was held that Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable on medical ground and in the changed circumstances.
7. In the following cases, the Second, Third and Fourth Bail Applications Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. were entertained but, the issue as to whether the subsequent or Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not, was not considered :-
(1) Nahar Singh v. State of Rajasthan , RLR 1983, p.88 = 1983 RLW 256, (2) Yad Ram v. State of Rajasthan , 1988 R.C.C. 267, (3) Bhagwan Singh v. State of Rajasthan , 1990 RCC 565 = 1990 (2) RLW 162, (4) Bhag Singh v. State of Rajasthan, 1991 RCC 95, (5) Islam Mohammed v. State of Rajasthan, 1994 RCC 207, (6) Smt. Premlata v. State of Rajasthan, S.B. Cr. IInd Bail Appl. No. 3030/2002, decided on 26.8.2002 at Jaipur Bench and (7) Jetha Ram v. State of Rajasthan, 1999(1) RLW (Raj.) p.283.
9(i) In Mitthu v. State of Rajasthan, 2000 Cr.L.R. (Raj.) p.483, this Court considered the question as to whether the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not and it was held that Second Bail Application is not maintainable.
9(ii) In Suresh Chand v. State of Rajasthan, RLR 2001 (2) p.757 = RLW 2001(4) Raj. 565, the question as to whether the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not, this Court took a view that second bail application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable.
8. The learned Additional Advocate General Mr. Mohd. Rafique submits that apart from the aforesaid judgments of this Court, there are other judgments of other High Courts wherein it has been held that the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable.
9. The Division Bench of the Kolkata High Court in Pawan Kumar Beriwal. v. State of West Bengal, 1998(4) Crimes 246, considered the issue as to whether Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not? The Division Bench held that Second Bail Application for anticipatory bail is not maintainable.
10. The Division Bench of Orissa High Court in Ekkri Ghosh @ Jitendra v. State, 1995(1) Crimes p. 145, also considered the same issue and took a view that Second Bail Application for anticipatory bail is not maintainable.
11. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in the case of Smt. Premlata v. State of Rajasthan (supra), there is a reference of judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Criminal) No. 3243/2000, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has remanded the matter to consider the Second Bail Application. Learned counsel submits that it was a case arising out of Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. itself.
12. To examine the correctness of the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner and to see as to whether there is any judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the point, I called the original file of Smt. Premlata v. State of Rajasthan (S.B. Criminal Misc. Second Application No. 3030/02), wherein a photo stat copy of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 29.9.2000 in Radha Mohan v. State of Rajasthan, Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 3243/2000, is available. The order passed by Hon'ble Supreme Court in above S.L.P. reads as under :-
"Upon hearing counsel the Court made the following order-Without prejudice to the right of the petitioner to move the High Court for bail afresh, this Special Leave Petition is dismissed."
13. The aforesaid order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is clear that the Hon'ble Supreme Court did not consider the issue regarding the maintainability of the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. and the Special Leave Petition was dismissed with the observation that without prejudice to the right of the petitioner to move the High Court for bail afresh, the Special Leave Petition was dismissed. Therefore, I have also examined the order dated 18.7.2000 passed in Radha Mohan v. State of Rajasthan (S.B. Criminal Misc. IIIrd Bail Application No. 2923/2000), against which the aforesaid Special Leave (Criminal) No. 3243/2000 was preferred before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The order dated 18.7.2000 passed by this Court in S.B. Criminal Misc. IIIrd Bail Application No. 2923/2000 reads as under :-
"Mr. B.S. Chauhan, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he wants to withdraw this S.B. Cri. Misc. III Bail Application. Hence, it is dismissed as withdrawn."
14. The aforesaid orders of this Court as well as of the Hon'ble Supreme Court will show that neither this Court nor the Hon'ble Supreme Court decided the issue involved in the present matter as to whether Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not?
15. The reference of the aforesaid cases clearly show that so far as cases of Nahar Singh v. State of Rajasthan (supra), Yadram v. State (supra), Bhagwan Singh v. State (supra), Bhag Singh v. State (supra), Islam Mohd. v. State (supra), and Smt. Premlata v. State (supra), are concerned, although the Second and Third Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. were entertained by this Court but, in all the cases, this issue was not considered and decided as to whether a Second Bail Application or any subsequent Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not?
16. However, in the case of Ramgopal v. State (supra), Vishnu Nath Mathur v. State (supra), Babulal v. State (supra), are concerned, this issue was discussed, considered and decided as to whether the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not? This Court held that on new facts, changed circumstances, medical ground, the subsequent or Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable.
17. So far as judgment of Mitthu v. State (supra), and Suresh Chand v. State (supra), are concerned, the issue was discussed, considered and decided and it was held that Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable.
18. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the judgments given in the cases of Mitthu v. State (supra), and Suresh Chand v. State (supra), should be treated as judgments per-incurium and it should be held that there is no contrary view on the issue and this Second Bail Application should be treated as maintainable. He submits that in the case of Mitthu v. State (supra), the earlier judgment of this Court given in the case of Ram Gopal v. State (supra), was not considered, therefore, it could be considered as judgment per incurium.
19. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that in Suresh Chand v. State (supra), the question under consideration was as to whether Second anticipatory Bail Application before Sessions Judge, after rejection of the first by the High Court, is maintainable? He submits that question involved in the present matter is different than the question decided in the case of Suresh Chand v. State (supra).
20. I have considered the above submissions of the learned counsel. The learned Single Judge of this Court in para 17 of the aforesaid judgment has categorically held that after rejection of bail application under Section 438 Cr.P.C. before the High Court, Second Bail Application even before the High Court is not maintainable.
21. In the case of Suresh Chand v. State (supra), the said judgment given in the case of Ram Gopal v. State (supra), was considered and it was held that the said judgment is hit by doctrine of per-incurium being rendered without noticing the mandate of Section 438 Cr.P.C., in respect of fact situation of "accusation of non-bailable offence" which remains the same till the completion of investigation.
22. The case of Mitthu v. State (supra), was considered in subsequent judgments namely Babulal v. State (supra), and Vishnu Nath Mathur v. State (supra), and it was held that the case of Mitthu v. State (supra), was decided on the basis of facts of that particular case. However, the judgment of Suresh Chand v. State (supra), was not considered in the case of Babulal v. State (supra), and Vishnu Nath v. State (supra).
23. The aforesaid discussion clearly reveals that all three judgments by learned Single Judges in the case of Ramgopal v. State (supra), Babulal v. Stale (supra), and Vishnunath Mathur v. State (supra), have held that subsequent or Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable on new facts, changed circumstances or medical ground whereas, in other two cases namely, Mitthu v. State (supra), and Suresh Chand v. State of Rajasthan (supra), both by learned Single Judge, it has been has held that the Second Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable. The powers of Section 438 Cr.P.C. are not only exercised by the High Court but, by the Court of Sessions also and in view of the fact that there are two contrary view on the point and there is no judgment by the Division Bench or Larger Bench of this Court or by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Therefore, I think fit and proper that this question should be decided by a Division Bench or by a Larger Bench.
24. 1 therefore, direct the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) to place the matter before Hon'ble the Chief Justice for constituting an appropriate Bench to decide the following question :-
"Whether Second or subsequent Bail Application Under Section 438 Cr.P.C. is maintainable or not ?"
25. The file be put up before Hon'ble the Chief Justice for constituting the appropriate Bench for authoritative pronouncement on the question formulated above.