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2023 Supreme(Del) 3827

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Dinesh Kumar Sharma, J.
Arti – Appellant
Versus
State (NCT of Delhi) & Anr. – Respondents
Cr.M.C. 1541 of 2022
Decided On : 02-08-2023

Advocates appeared:
Ms.Naiem Jaha, Advocate(VC)(DHCLSC), for the Petitioner.
Mr. Hemant Mehla, APP for the State with SI Sangeeta, PS S.B. Dairy.
Mr. Vijay Datt Gahtori, Mr. Priyank Kharkwal, Mr. Shashi Kala and Ms.Sadhna Chand, Advocates, for the Respondent-2.

The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for supervening circumstances and overwhelming reasons for the cancellation of bail, as outlined in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab.

Headnote:

Cancellation of Bail - Criminal Law - Section 376 IPC, Section 506 IPC, Section 509 IPC - The court discussed the principles for cancellation of bail as outlined in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 565 and highlighted the need for supervening circumstances and overwhelming reasons for cancellation of bail. The court emphasized that bail cannot be cancelled mechanically and must consider the accused's interference with the administration of justice, possibility of absconding, misuse of bail, tampering with evidence, or threatening witnesses. The court found no substantial material on record to cancel the bail in the present case.

Fact of the Case:

The complainant alleged that the accused had made forceful physical relations with her under the false pretext of marriage, resulting in pregnancy and forced termination. The accused was granted bail, and the petitioner sought cancellation of bail, citing threats and harassment by the accused.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the petition, stating that there were no supervening circumstances warranting the cancellation of bail. It found no substantial material on record to support the petitioner's claim.

Issues: The main issue was the petitioner's plea for the cancellation of the accused's bail, citing threats and harassment. The court had to determine whether there were supervening circumstances justifying the cancellation of bail.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for supervening circumstances and overwhelming reasons for the cancellation of bail. It highlighted the principles outlined in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab and reiterated that bail cannot be cancelled mechanically.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the petition, stating that there were no supervening circumstances warranting the cancellation of bail.

JUDGMENT

Dinesh Kumar Sharma, J. (Oral)--The present petition has been filed under Section 439 (2) read with Section 482 Cr. PC for seeking cancellation of bail of respondent No.2 granted vide order dated 31.01.2022 in case FIR No. 106/2022 under section 376 IPC.

2. Brief Facts, of the present case are that the complainant lodged a complaint, alleging therein that under the false pretext of marriage, the accused had made forceful physical relations with the complainant, due to which she became pregnant and was further also forced by the accused to terminate her pregnancy.Therefore, the present FIR was registered and the accused was arrested on 25.01.2022. The applicant has been granted bail vide order dated 31.01.2022 passed by Learned ASJ, Rohini Court.

3. Learned Counsel for the petitionersubmits that the police did not take any action on the complaint filed by the petitioner against respondent No. 2 and since then respondent No. 2 is chasing and stalking her. Learned Counsel also submits that these types of atrocities and threats are trying to pressurise the Petitioner who is the key witness of the FIR and compelling her not to give a true statement before the Trial Court. It has been also submitted that respondent No. 2 is taking undue advantage of the liberty granted by the Learned Trial Court, has violated the main condition of bail by approaching, threatening, following, and chasing the Petitioner and misusing the Bail granted to him, therefore the bail is liable to be cancelled.

4. Learned APP for the State very fairly submitted that the State has not moved any application for cancellation of bail. However, learned APP for the State submits that the threat extended to the petitioner may be taken into Consideration.

5. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that it is only a matter of an extortion and submits that even the alleged incident of 17.02.2022 has been reported on 23.02.2022.The discretion for the grant of bail and cancellation of bail are entirely different. In this regard, this Court takes note of the decision of Hon'ble Apex Court in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 565; Deepak Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2022) 8 SCC 559 wherein in was observed as under:

    "...31. This Court has reiterated in several instances that bail once granted, should not be cancelled in a mechanical manner without considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive to a fair trial to allow the accused to retain his freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during trial. Having said that, in case of cancellation of bail, very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for an order directing cancellation of bail (which was already granted).

    32. A two-Judge Bench of this Court in Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana, (1995) laid down the grounds for cancellation of bail which are:

    (i) interference or attempt to interfere with the due course of administration of justice;

    (ii) evasion or attempt to evade the due course of justice;

    (iii) abuse of the concession granted to the accused in any manner;

    (iv) possibility of the accused absconding;

    (v) likelihood of/actual misuse of bail;

    (vi) likelihood of the accused tampering with the evidence or threatening witnesses.

    33. It is no doubt true that cancellation of bail cannot be limited to the occurrence of supervening circumstances. This Court certainly has the inherent powers and discretion to cancel the bail of an accused even in the absence of supervening circumstances. Following are the illustrative circumstances where the bail can be cancelled:

    a) Where the court granting bail takes into account irrelevant material of substantial nature and not trivial nature while ignoring relevant material on record.

    b) Where the court granting bail overlooks the influential position of the accused in comparison to the victim of abuse or the witnesses especially when there is prima facie misuse of position and powe

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