Explain bail by trial court: Punjab and Haryana HC

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

The Punjab and Haryana HC has asked the Amritsar District and Sessions Judge to furnish a report on the grant of regular bail to an accused in a criminal case by a trial court despite the pendency of the matter before the HC. The Sessions Judge has also been asked to probe the matter, if deemed necessary.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, Justice Harminder Singh Madaan further directed the Sessions Judge to send the copy of the trial court order granting regular bail to the petitioner-accused, along with her report as to how the petition was entertained and allowed when the matter was pending before the High Court. “If necessary, she may hold the probe into the matter by asking for an explanation from the court concerned and joining the state counsel and local police officials concerned,” Justice Madaan added.

For the purpose of completing the exercise, Justice Madaan set a month’s deadline. The matter was placed before Justice Madaan’s Bench after the accused filed the petition for the grant of regular bail in a snatching case registered under Section 379-B of IPC at the Maqboolpura police station in Amritsar.

Taking up the matter initially on February 18, Justice Madaan issued a notice of motion to the state before directing the trial court to record the statement of the material witnesses. During the resumed hearing of the matter before the HC, an application was filed by the petitioner to withdraw the main petition “for the reason that the petitioner has been granted bail by the trial court”. Justice Madaan allowed the application and granted permission to the applicant-petitioner to withdraw the main petition, while seeking the report.

Report sought

The HC directed the Amritsar District and Sessions Judge to send a copy of the trial court order granting regular bail to the petitioner-accused, along with a report as to how the petition was entertained and allowed when the matter was pending before the HC