K.JAYACHANDRA REDDY, S.R.PANDIAN
Narcotics Control Bureau – Appellant
Versus
Kishan Lal – Respondent
JUDGMENT
K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J.:— The High Court of Delhi by a common order in two petitions filed under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act for short) held that the restrictions placed on the powers of the Court to grant bail in certain offences under the amended S. 37 of the NDPS Act are not applicable to the High Court. Aggrieved by the said order, the Narcotics, Control Bureau has filed these two appeals.
2. The petitioners before the High Court in two different cases were arrested for offences under various Sections of the NDPS Act. They were refused bail and remanded to judicial custody. On the basis of the report the Magistrate concerned took cognizance and remanded them to judicial custody. The petitioners filed a writ petition as well as a criminal miscellaneous petition seeking bail firstly on the ground that they are entitled to be released or! bail as required under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure as the charge-sheet was filed at a belated stage and secondly on the ground of illness, A learned single Judge referred this matter to a Division Bench and the Division Bench by the impugned order held that the limitations placed
explained and harmonised : Usmanbhai Dawoodbhai Memon v. State of Gujarat
None of the cases explicitly state that they have been overruled, reversed, or explicitly criticized as bad law. However, some entries mention that certain views or decisions have been set aside or distinguished, which may imply prior decisions were questioned or overruled, but these are not definitive statements of bad law. For example:
ANIL KUMAR GANDHI VS N. C. B. - 1991 0 Supreme(Del) 344: "This view of the Delhi High Court was set aside by the Supreme Court in the case of Narcotics Control Bureau v. ... Kishan Lal and others, 1991 Crl. L. J. 654." — indicates that a prior view was overruled or set aside.
Ram Sarup Alias Sarup Chand VS State Of Haryana - 1992 0 Supreme(P&H) 492: "Kishan Lal, AIR 1991 SC 558 ... lay down a correct law and, therefore, the same cannot be relied upon, in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in Narcotic Control" — suggests that the earlier law in Kishan Lal was superseded or questioned.
Several references to "Narcotics Control Bureau v. Kishan Lal, AIR 1991 SC 558" are repeated, often as a point of reference, but not as overruled decisions.
Overall, there is no explicit indication that any case law in the list has been overruled or reversed outright. Some references imply that decisions like Kishan Lal (AIR 1991 SC 558) are considered good law, while others note that certain views have been distinguished or set aside, but without clear overruled declarations.
Many entries cite "Narcotics Control Bureau v. Kishan Lal, AIR 1991 SC 558" as a binding or significant precedent, indicating that this case is treated as authoritative and good law. For example:
Griraj VS State of Madhay Pradesh - Crimes (1992), Angrej Singh VS State of Rajasthan (34) - 1992 0 Supreme(Raj) 340, Rashid Khan alias Rashid VS State (9) - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 13, MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, BHILWARA VS STATE OF RAJASTHAN - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 48, Jai Singh VS Union of India - Crimes (1993), Jai Singh VS Union of India (27) - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 45, BIMBADHAR BEHERA VS STATE OF ORISSA - 1993 0 Supreme(Ori) 10, Man Singh VS State of Rajasthan - Crimes (1993), Heikrujam Sarat Singh VS State of Manipur - 1994 0 Supreme(Gau) 43, Union of India VS Ram Moorti - 1999 0 Supreme(Raj) 1237, R. Paulsamy VS Superintendent, Narcotic Control Bureau, Chennai - Crimes (1999), Union of India VS Thamisharasi - 1995 0 Supreme(Raj) 274, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Amit Banerjee VS Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, Enforcement Diretorate - 2016 0 Supreme(Cal) 805, RANGE OFFICER/AUTHORISED OFFICER KERALA FOREST DEPARTMENT VS MUNNAR TEA GARDEN RESIDENCY - 2016 0 Supreme(Ker) 101, Rakesh S/o Shri Bhanwar Lal VS State Of Rajasthan, Through PP - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 1478, Amlan Jyoti Baruah VS State of Assam, Represented by the Standing Counsel, Forest - 2023 0 Supreme(Gau) 16, Jeewan Mondal VS State NCT Of Delhi - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 2352, Pappu Kumar Sahani, S/O- Ramesh Sahani VS Narcotics Control Bureau Represented By Its Director, Guwahati Zonal Unit - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1730, Shrawan VS State of Rajasthan - 2019 0 Supreme(Raj) 789, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Union of India VS Ram Moorti - 1999 0 Supreme(Raj) 1237, Dharam Pal VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2019 0 Supreme(HP) 1083, Shrawan VS State of Rajasthan - 2019 0 Supreme(Raj) 789, Besu Ashurhu S/O Besu VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1598, Elaa D/O Mathibo VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1597, Hero Sarkar vs Union of India through the Intelligence Officer Narcotics Control Bureau Kolkata Zonal Unit - 2025 Supreme(Online)(Cal) 4707, Radhakrishnan VS State by Inspector of Police - 2005 0 Supreme(Mad) 133, Radhakrishnan VS State by Inspector of Police, Kanniyakumari Police Station, in Crime No. 238/2004 - Crimes (2005), Badri Lal VS State of Rajasthan - 2005 0 Supreme(Raj) 557, RAJ KUMAR KISHOREPURIA VS GENERAL MANAGER, SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA - 2005 0 Supreme(Cal) 199, Rasheed VS State of Karnataka - Crimes (2007), Mahadevappa VS Karnataka Lokayuktha - 2009 0 Supreme(Kar) 73, Redaul Hussain Khan VS State of Assam - 2009 0 Supreme(Gau) 500, Inspector of Customs Preventive Unit VS Betrand Tochukwa Ikwuka - Crimes (2010), Kayum VS State of Rajasthan - 2021 0 Supreme(Raj) 39, Ganesh Sharma @ Gelal S/o Shri Shiva Lall Sharma VS State of Sikkim - 2021 0 Supreme(Sikk) 30, Prabhat Kumar Srivastava VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2021 0 Supreme(Del) 2314, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Amit Banerjee VS Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, Enforcement Diretorate - 2016 0 Supreme(Cal) 805, RANGE OFFICER/AUTHORISED OFFICER KERALA FOREST DEPARTMENT VS MUNNAR TEA GARDEN RESIDENCY - 2016 0 Supreme(Ker) 101, Rakesh S/o Shri Bhanwar Lal VS State Of Rajasthan, Through PP - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 1478, Besu Ashurhu S/O Besu VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1598, Jeewan Mondal VS State NCT Of Delhi - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 2352, Amlan Jyoti Baruah VS State of Assam, Represented by the Standing Counsel, Forest - 2023 0 Supreme(Gau) 16, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 515, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - Crimes (2023), Gurpreet Singh VS State of NCT of Delhi - 2024 0 Supreme(Del) 268, Shailendra Kumar Gupta @ Shailu VS State of U. P. - 2020 0 Supreme(All) 438, Satish Singh VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 829, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 327, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 240, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 348, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 236, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 342, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 229, Satinder Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 395, Rumpa Debnath (Bhowmik) VS State of Tripura - 2020 0 Supreme(Tri) 44, Kayum VS State of Rajasthan - 2021 0 Supreme(Raj) 39, Ganesh Sharma @ Gelal S/o Shri Shiva Lall Sharma VS State of Sikkim - 2021 0 Supreme(Sikk) 30, Prabhat Kumar Srivastava VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2021 0 Supreme(Del) 2314, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Amit Banerjee VS Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, Enforcement Diretorate - 2016 0 Supreme(Cal) 805, RANGE OFFICER/AUTHORISED OFFICER KERALA FOREST DEPARTMENT VS MUNNAR TEA GARDEN RESIDENCY - 2016 0 Supreme(Ker) 101, Rakesh S/o Shri Bhanwar Lal VS State Of Rajasthan, Through PP - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 1478, Besu Ashurhu S/O Besu VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1598, Jeewan Mondal VS State NCT Of Delhi - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 2352, Amlan Jyoti Baruah VS State of Assam, Represented by the Standing Counsel, Forest - 2023 0 Supreme(Gau) 16, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 515, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - Crimes (2023), Gurpreet Singh VS State of NCT of Delhi - 2024 0 Supreme(Del) 268, Shailendra Kumar Gupta @ Shailu VS State of U. P. - 2020 0 Supreme(All) 438, Satish Singh VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 829, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 327, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 240, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 348, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 236, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 342, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 229, Satinder Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 395, Rumpa Debnath (Bhowmik) VS State of Tripura - 2020 0 Supreme(Tri) 44, Kayum VS State of Rajasthan - 2021 0 Supreme(Raj) 39, Ganesh Sharma @ Gelal S/o Shri Shiva Lall Sharma VS State of Sikkim - 2021 0 Supreme(Sikk) 30, Prabhat Kumar Srivastava VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2021 0 Supreme(Del) 2314, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Amit Banerjee VS Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, Enforcement Diretorate - 2016 0 Supreme(Cal) 805, RANGE OFFICER/AUTHORISED OFFICER KERALA FOREST DEPARTMENT VS MUNNAR TEA GARDEN RESIDENCY - 2016 0 Supreme(Ker) 101, Rakesh S/o Shri Bhanwar Lal VS State Of Rajasthan, Through PP - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 1478, Besu Ashurhu S/O Besu VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1598, Jeewan Mondal VS State NCT Of Delhi - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 2352, Amlan Jyoti Baruah VS State of Assam, Represented by the Standing Counsel, Forest - 2023 0 Supreme(Gau) 16, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 515, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - Crimes (2023), Gurpreet Singh VS State of NCT of Delhi - 2024 0 Supreme(Del) 268, Shailendra Kumar Gupta @ Shailu VS State of U. P. - 2020 0 Supreme(All) 438, Satish Singh VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 829, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 327, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 240, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 348, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 236, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 342, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 229, Satinder Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 395, Rumpa Debnath (Bhowmik) VS State of Tripura - 2020 0 Supreme(Tri) 44, etc.
The repeated references to AIR 1991 SC 558 (Kishan Lal) as a key authority suggest it is generally treated as good law and foundational for the interpretation of the NDPS Act, especially regarding bail and the powers of courts.
Several entries mention that the decision in Kishan Lal or other cases has been distinguished or that certain provisions or interpretations have been clarified or limited:
ANTARYAMI PATRA VS STATE OF ORISSA - 1993 0 Supreme(Ori) 29: "The Supreme Court has considered this provision in the case of Narcotics Control Bureau v. Kishan Lal, AIR 1991 SC 558 ... and has held that the provision of S. 37 with its non obstante ..." — indicates that the case is used to interpret specific statutory provisions.
Angrej Singh VS State of Rajasthan - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 323: "So far as the case of Narcotics Control Bureau vs. ... The said Act no doubt makes stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic" — suggests recognition of the case's authority but not an overruled status.
Devki Nandan VS State of Rajasthan - 1996 0 Supreme(Raj) 32: "The Supreme Court in Narcotics Control Bureau v. Kishan Lal, reported in AIR 1991 SC 558" is cited as a settled law.
Besu Ashurhu S/O Besu VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1598, Elaa D/O Mathibo VS State Of Nagaland - 2024 0 Supreme(Gau) 1597: "It is settled law vide Narcotics Control Bureau vs. ... Kishan Lal and others, [1991] 1 SCC 705 that the powers of this Court to grant bail under Section 439, CrPC are subject to the limitations" — reaffirming the case’s authority.
These references reinforce the case's role as a leading authority rather than indicating it has been overruled.
Several entries mention the case in passing or as part of a broader discussion, but without explicit treatment indicators:
MABIA BIBI VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL - 1991 0 Supreme(Cal) 194, Angrej Singh VS State of Rajasthan (34) - 1992 0 Supreme(Raj) 340, Gurdeep Singh VS State of Rajasthan - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 469, Sankar Singh VS State of Assam - Crimes (1993), BAL MUKUND JAISWAL VS BHARAT SANGH DWARA AASUCHANA ADHIKARI NARCOTIC CONTROL BUREAU, VARANASI - 1993 0 Supreme(All) 193, BANKA DAS VS STATE OF ORISSA - 1992 0 Supreme(Ori) 113, Rashid Khan alias Rashid VS State (9) - 1993 0 Supreme(Raj) 13, Sosar VS State of Rajasthan - 1994 0 Supreme(Raj) 131, Union of India VS Ram Moorti - 1999 0 Supreme(Raj) 1237, R. Paulsamy VS Superintendent, Narcotic Control Bureau, Chennai - Crimes (1999), Union of India VS Thamisharasi - 1995 0 Supreme(Raj) 274, ATHAR PERVEZ VS STATE - 2016 0 Supreme(Del) 1048, Amit Banerjee VS Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, Enforcement Diretorate - 2016 0 Supreme(Cal) 805, RANGE OFFICER/AUTHORISED OFFICER KERALA FOREST DEPARTMENT VS MUNNAR TEA GARDEN RESIDENCY - 2016 0 Supreme(Ker) 101, Rakesh S/o Shri Bhanwar Lal VS State Of Rajasthan, Through PP - 2024 0 Supreme(Raj) 1478, Amlan Jyoti Baruah VS State of Assam, Represented by the Standing Counsel, Forest - 2023 0 Supreme(Gau) 16, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - 2023 0 Supreme(Del) 515, Ashish Mittal VS Serious Fraud Investigation Office - Crimes (2023), Gurpreet Singh VS State of NCT of Delhi - 2024 0 Supreme(Del) 268, Shailendra Kumar Gupta @ Shailu VS State of U. P. - 2020 0 Supreme(All) 438, Satish Singh VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 829, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 327, Dinesh Kumar @ Billa VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 240, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 348, Om Parkash VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 236, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 342, Sandeep Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 229, Satinder Kumar VS State of Himachal Pradesh - 2020 0 Supreme(HP) 395, Rumpa Debnath (Bhowmik) VS State of Tripura - 2020 0 Supreme(Tri) 44, etc.
Many of these references do not specify whether the case was followed, distinguished, or overruled, just that it was cited or relied upon.
The treatment of Kishan Lal (AIR 1991 SC 558) appears consistently as a binding precedent, so treatment ambiguity is minimal for this case.
Some references to "distinguished" or "not relied upon" are absent, so treatment remains generally supportive unless explicitly stated otherwise.
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