Punjab-Haryana High Court
Ram Bilas @ Mantri @ Mukesh vs State Of Punjab on 24 July, 2020
Author: Amol Rattan Singh
Bench: Amol Rattan Singh
209 CRM-M-15976-2020 (O&M) -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-15976-2020 (O&M)
Date of Decision: 24.07.2020
Ram Bilas @ Mantri @ Mukesh
......Petitioner
Vs.
State of Punjab
.........Respondent
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMOL RATTAN SINGH
Present: Mr. Kamal Narula, Advocate,
for the petitioner.
Mr. V.G. Jauhar, Sr. D.A.G., Punjab.
*****
AMOL RATTAN SINGH, J. (ORAL)
All cases listed today have been taken up for hearing by way of video conferencing because of the situation existing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This petition has been filed under the provisions of Section 439 of the Cr.P.C. for grant of 'regular bail' to the petitioner, upon FIR no. 01, dated 03.01.2020, having been registered at Police Station Civil Lines, District Bathinda, for the alleged commission of an offence punishable under Section 22 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Learmed counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been in custody for almost 07 months now, with no prosecution witness examined so far due to the current pandemic and further, that there is no other case registered against the petitioner.
Learned State counsel, on instructions, submits that the quantity of contraband recovered from the petitioner being commercial quantity, he may not 1 of 2 ::: Downloaded on - 27-09-2020 08:25:49 ::: 209 CRM-M-15976-2020 (O&M) -2- be released on bail; however, he obviously could not deny the factual position with regard to the period of custody or the stage of trial.
Considering the fact that the trial is not likely to conclude in the near future especially in view of the ongoing pandemic and with no other criminal case registered against the petitioner, without making any comment on the actual merits of the case, the petition is allowed. The petitioner shall be admitted to bail upon his furnishing adequate bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the learned trial court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, concerned.
July 24, 2020 (AMOL RATTAN SINGH)
nitin JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes
Whether Reportable No.
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