Punjab-Haryana High Court
Balkaran Singh vs State Of Punjab on 29 June, 2015
Author: Anita Chaudhry
Bench: Anita Chaudhry
CRM-M-14351-2015 -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
Crl. Misc. No. M-14351 of 2015
Date of decision : 29.06.2015
Balkaran Singh
...... Petitioner
versus
State of Punjab
... Respondent
CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE ANITA CHAUDHRY
Present: Mr. C.M. Munjal, Advocate
for the petitioner.
Mr. V.P.S. Sidhu, Asst. AG, Punjab.
ANITA CHAUDHRY, J.
Petitioner Balkaran Singh seeks regular bail in case FIR No.78 dated 25.05.2014, registered under Section 22 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Bahaw Wala, District Fazilka.
The petitioner was arrested on 25.05.2014. The period of 180 days to file the challan lapsed on 21.11.2014. Before expiry of 180 days, the Investigating Agency has filed an application under Section 36-A(4) of the NDPS Act, seeking extension of time but the same was not decided before expiry of 180 days. The petitioner moved application on 26.11.2014 seeking bail which was dismissed on 02.12.2014. Incomplete challan was filed in the Court on 24.12.2014 as report of Chemical Examiner was not attached with the challan. Another application under Section 167(2) Cr.P.C. was filed which was dismissed on 28.01.2015. SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -2-
The petitioner seeks concession of bail claiming that an indefeasible right had accrued to him on expiry of 180 days which could not be defeated by filing of the application under Section 36-A (4) of the Act.
It was also contended that the extension granted could not operate retrospectively as per the ratio of the Hon'ble Apex Court. It was urged that the Magistrate was obliged to deal with the application under Section 167(2) Cr.P.C. on the day when it was filed.
On the other hand, the submission made on behalf of State was that the extension granted by the Court would relate back to the date of application and there were no compelling reasons as to why the challan could not be filed.
I have considered the submissions of the petitioner and the State counsel. The prosecution agency had sought extension of time under the statute by moving an application under Section 36A(4) of the NDPS Act.
In Hardeep Singh Vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-17260- 2014, decided on 29.5.2014, taking into consideration the judgment of Hon'ble the Apex Court in Sanjay Kumar Kedia @ Sanjay Kedia Vs. Intelligence Officer, Narcotic Control Bureau and another, 2009 (17) SCC 631, besides the provisions of under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act and Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C., held: -
"I have considered the ratio of the judgment in case Sanjay Kedia (supra) on the basis of which SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -3- the prosecution had moved an application in the shape of report under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act. It has been held in the said judgment that in case the investigation is not completed within 180 days the Court is empowered to authorize detention for a period upto one year provided following conditions are specified: -
i) report of the Public Prosecutor indicating the progress of investigation;
ii) specific and compelling reasons for seeking detention of the accused beyond 180 days should be mentioned; and
iii) notice should have been issued to the accused.
In the present case, I am of the opinion that Public Prosecutor had taken abundant caution to present application well in time i.e., on 10.4.2014 but the said application having not been allowed after notice to the accused within 180 days, an indefeasible right had accrued to the petitioner when he moved an application on 15.4.2014. The said right could not have been defeated by delaying a decision on the application for extension of time to present challan and to permit detention beyond 180 days or by delaying the decision on the application under Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C. filed by the petitioner on 15.4.2014 for 3.5.1014. Indefeasible right SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -4- accrued to the petitioner could not have been defeated. The petitioner, thus, has got a right to be released on bail.
*** ** * * ** * ** Before parting with it may be observed that as the petitioner has been able to get the benefit of default of the prosecution agency and also the delay caused in decision of the application under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act, I am of the considered opinion that whenever any application under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act, is filed by the prosecution agency seeking authorization of the detenu as accused in custody beyond the period of 180 days, said application should be decided expeditiously."
In Kaka Singh Vs. State of Punjab, CRM-M-22760- 2014, decided on 12.8.2014, taking into consideration the judgment reported in Union of India through CBI Vs. Nirala Yadav @ Raja Ram Yadav @ Deepak Yadav , 2014 (4) RAJ 265, it was observed : -
"I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner. In a judgment passed by this Court in Hardeep Singh Vs. State of Punjab, CRM M- 17260 of 2014 granting bail in similar circumstances vide order dated May 29, 2014, this Court has observed that whenever any application under Section 36 A (4) of the Act was filed by the SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -5- prosecution agency seeking authorization of detention of an accused in custody beyond the period of 180 days, said application should be decided expeditiously. Similarly, the Apex Court in the case of Union of India through CBI Vs. Nirala Yadav @ Raja Ram Yadav @ Deepak Yadav, 2014 (4) RAJ 265 has issued directions that an application under Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C. filed on behalf of the accused should be decided by the Magistrate on the same day. The petitioner in the present case seeks to take advantage of the following lapses:-
i) lapses on the part of the FSL in sending the report expeditiously pertaining to the narcotic medicines recovered from the petitioner;
ii) default on the part of the prosecution agency to present challan on account of above said lapse;
iii) lapse on the part of the trial Court in not deciding the application filed by Public Prosecutor on September 21, 2013 prior to the expiry of 180 days under Section 36 A (4) of the Act;
iv) lapse on the part of the Court in not deciding the application under Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C. Which was filed on September 24, 2013. The petitioner seems to have acquired an indefeasible right to be released on bail on the basis of the above said SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -6- circumstances, as the statute confers a right upon him to be released after expiry of 180 days but at the same time, it is not out of place to observe here that as an abundant caution, the prosecution agency in order to prevent the release of accused had filed an application under Section 36 A (4) of the Act on September 21, 2013 which application could have been decided after issuing notice to the petitioner in jail by September 24, 2013 before expiry of period of 180 days. Had that application been decided by passing a speaking order in accordance with law, the petitioner would not have got an opportunity to seek the advantage of default of the prosecution agency in presentation of challan by moving an application under Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C."
It has been observed on numerous occasions that Courts dealing with the cases under the NDPS Act should expeditiously decide the application prior to the expiry of period of 180 days, in case the same is filed before the expiry of above said period. At the same time, it was also directed that the law laid down by Hon'ble the Apex Court in Union of India through CBI Vs. Nirala Y adav @ Raja Ram Yadav @ Deepak Yadav , 2014 (4) RAJ 265, directing that the application under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act should be disposed of by the concerned Magistrate on the same day should be complied with.
SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -7-
A co-ordinate Bench in Ranjit Singh @ Rana Vs. State of Punjab in Crl. Revision No.2087 of 2014 has referred the following issues before the larger Bench for adjudication vide order dated 11.09.2014:-
(i) Whether the petitioner has indefeasible right to be released on bail on the expiry of period of 60 or 90 or 180 days as the case may be;
(ii) Whether the right to bail of the petitioner gets effected in case the application is moved after the expiry of that period;
(iii) Whether the petitioner has a right to be released on bail even without moving any application on expiry of said period;
(iv) Whether the application moved by the prosecution can be extended as a matter of right or after seeing the reasons and circumstances of each case.
(v) Whether after dismissal of the bail application before the trial Court, the remedy is of filing revision or petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C .or 482 CrPC;
(vi) Whether while deciding the application under Section 167(2) CrPC, the merits of the case or nature of the offence is to be seen or not;
(vii) Whether the application for extension of time moved by the prosecution and application seeking grant of bail moved by the accused should be decided together on the same date and in the presence of both the parties;
In context of the aforesaid decisions, it is observed that the right to be released on bail under Section 167(2) Cr.P.C., accrued to the petitioner on 21.11.2014 on expiry of 180 days of his detention. The application under Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C. had been filed on 26.11.2014. An indefeasible right to be released on bail which accrued to the petitioner after 21.11.2014 and could not have been defeated by filing an application under Section 36 A (4) of the NDPS Act.
SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-14351-2015 -8-
The petition is allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bonds/ surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court.
(ANITA CHAUDHRY) JUDGE 29.06.2015 'Sunil Sehgal' SUNIL SEHGAL 2015.06.30 14:06 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh