N. C. Mukherji, J. :- These three applications for anticipatory bail were taken up together for hearing as the same point of law is involved in all these three cases. At the outset, it may be said that all these applications are in connection with cases which have been started in the Courts outside the jurisdiction of this High Court. A preliminary objection has been raised on behalf of the State by the learned Public Prosecutor that this High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain these applications as the cases have been started in the Courts outside the jurisdiction of this High Court. With regard to the merits, the learned Public Prosecutor states that besides the copies of the applications which have been served on him he has no other materials before him and as such he is very much handicapped in making his submissions with regard to the merits of the cases. Mr. Dutta who appears in the case of Binod Ranian Sinha and in the case of Gurdev Singh and others submits that S.438 of the Cr. P.C. has not, in any way, restricted the jurisdiction of this Court to entertain applications in matters where criminal cases have been instituted against the petitioners in Courts outs