Allahabad High Court
Dr. Rajeshwar Kumar Mishra vs State Of U.P. on 8 May, 2020
Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2020 ALL 2334
Author: Jaspreet Singh
Bench: Jaspreet Singh
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD, LUCKNOW BENCH ?In Chamber Case :- BAIL No. - 2765 of 2020 Applicant :- Dr. Rajeshwar Kumar Mishra Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Prabhu Ranjan Tripathi Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Jaspreet Singh,J.
In view of the guidelines laid down by this Court, the urgent bail applications have been directed to be heard through Video Conferencing. Learned Counsel for the applicant had made an application for urgency which was placed before the Hon'ble the Senior Judge which has been allowed on 28.04.2020 and it is in this fashion that this bail application has been placed before this Court.
The Court has heard Sri Prabhu Ranjan Tripathi, learned counsel for the applicant and Shri J.S. Tomar, learned AGA through video conference.
The submission of learned counsel for the applicant is that the applicant has been working in a Degree College at Faizabad. The complainant who is neither an employee of the College nor the applicant nor is a member nor related to its management nor an employee or a official of the Education Department has falsely and with malafide intention got the First Information Report lodged with false and frivolous allegations as a result the applicant has been arrested and is in Jail since 15.12.2019.
The further submission is that actually the complainant some time in the year 2018 had applied for a clerical post in the institution where the applicant was the Principal. Since both the applicant and the complainant hailed from the District Azamgarh, therefore, he had sought a favour from the applicant regarding appointment which was declined by the applicant. It is in view thereof that the complainant became aggrieved and with malafide intentions and to malign the applicant has got the First Information Report lodged. The allegation in the First Information Report is that the applicant has submitted a false and forged experience certificate.
The submission of learned counsel for the applicant is that the aforesaid certificates were deposited with the appropriate authorities including the DIOS who had verified the same and only after checking the credentials of the applicant he was granted and appointed as the Principal. It is in the aforesaid circumstances, it has been submitted that there is no occasion for the applicant to have forged the experience certificate and as such has sought the indulgence from the Court.
The learned A.G.A. Sri J.S. Tomar has opposed the bail application. He has submitted that as per the instructions received, it has been brought out that the applicant has forged documents. On a query being put to the learned A.G.A. whether the D.I.O.S. was ever confronted or questioned as to whether and in what manner the experience certificate of the applicant was verified, to this it has been informed by the learned A.G.A. that there is no mention in the comments received by him.
Considering the overall facts and circumstances and the material available on record as well as considering the allegations against the applicant, severity of punishment and that the charges are yet to be tested in trial where only if the evidence and material is proved beyond reasonable doubt can the applicant be convicted as well as that the applicant has been languishing in Jail since 15.12.2019.
Considering the overall circumstances and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court is of the view that the applicant is entitled to be released on bail.
The Registry of this Court has reported certain defects and in this regard the High Court has laid down a guideline vide circular dated 14.04.2020. The relevant portion thereof is being reproduced hereinafter:-
"2. However, during the lock down period, the requirement of an affidavit/e-affidavit/scanned Notary Affidavit shall not be mandatory in the case of BAIL APPLICATIONS and ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATIONS. In lieu thereof, Counsel shall have to submit, in the e-filed petitions, the Adhar Card Number, full details of the card holder like name, parentage, age and address, as also the mobile number linked to the adhar card, of the person wanting to act as the deponent in the matter along with a declaration of that applicant/petitioner/pairokar affirming the correctness of the disclosures and averments made in the application/petition. In case of civil matters, a prayer for dispensing with the requirement of filing an affidavit may be made along with the urgency application which shall also be considered simultaneous with the issue of urgency.
3. This waiver or relaxation is subject to a proper affidavit being filed, in hard copy, within a period of 15 days from the date the lock down is lifted. No further time shall be granted for the purpose. In case a proper affidavit is not filed as specified above, the said case shall stand dismissed automatically and any order passed therein, shall stand recalled, without any reference to the Court. A communication, in this regard shall be sent by the Registry to the Court(s) below/authorities concerned, forthwith for consequential action."
Hence this order passed by the Court shall be subject to the compliance of the conditions as prescribed in the circular dated 14.04.2020.
Let the applicant Dr. Rajeshwar Kumar Mishra involved in Case Crime No. 69 of 2019, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 I.P.C., Police Station Ram Janam Bhumi, District Faizabad/Ayodhya be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond to the satisfaction of the Jail Authorities where said accused is imprisoned, provided the accused applicant/s shall also undertake to furnish two reliable sureties required by the court concerned, within a period of 6 weeks from the date of his/her actual release.
At the time of executing required sureties the following conditions shall be imposed in the interest of justice.
(i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law.
(ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.
(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code.
(iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court, absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.
(v) The party shall file computer generated copy of such order downloaded from the official website of High Court Allahabad.
(vi) The computer generated copy of such order shall be self attested by the counsel or the party concerned.
(vii) The concerned Court/Authority/Official shall verify the authenticity of such computerized copy of the order from the official website of High Court Allahabad and shall make a declaration of such verification in writing.
Order Date :- 8.5.2020 Asheesh