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2022 Supreme(Raj) 2582

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Narendra Singh Dhaddha, J.
Bhairu & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
State Of Rajasthan – Respondent
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 2987/2022
Decided On : 31-03-2022

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Tarun Jain, Advocate, for the Petitioner
Mr. Mangal Singh Saini, PP, for the Respondent

Cancellation of bail should not be done in a mechanical manner without considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive for a fair trial to allow the accused to retain freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during the trial.

Headnote:

Cancellation of Bail - Criminal Procedure Code - The court quashed and set aside the order of cancellation of bail granted to the accused petitioners under Section 436 CrPC, emphasizing that very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for the cancellation of bail already granted, and it should not be done in a mechanical manner without considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive for a fair trial to allow the accused to retain freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during the trial.

Fact of the Case:

An FIR was registered for various offenses, initially bailable, but later non-bailable offenses were added. The State Government moved an application for cancellation of bail, stating that custodial interrogation of the petitioners would be required.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the learned trial Judge erred in allowing the application filed by the State Government under Section 439(2) CrPC, and quashed and set aside the order of cancellation of bail, allowing the accused petitioners to remain on bail granted to them under Section 436 CrPC.

Issues: Cancellation of bail, grounds for cancellation, and the necessity of very cogent and overwhelming circumstances for the cancellation of bail already granted.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for the cancellation of bail already granted, and it should not be done in a mechanical manner without considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive for a fair trial to allow the accused to retain freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during the trial.

Final Decision: The court quashed and set aside the order of cancellation of bail, allowing the accused petitioners to remain on bail granted to them under Section 436 CrPC.

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - Very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for cancellation of bail already granted; not to be done mechanically (!) (!) - Bail cancellation under Section 439(2) CrPC should consider supervening circumstances affecting fair trial and confinement rather than mere addition of non-bailable offenses (!) (!) - The court quashed the cancellation order and allowed petitioners to remain on bail under Section 436 CrPC (!)

What is the standard or circumstances required for cancellation of bail already granted under Section 436 CrPC?

What factors or supervening circumstances justify cancelling bail under Section 439(2) CrPC, as discussed in this judgment?

What are the implications of not cancelling bail in light of added non-bailable offenses, according to this decision?


JUDGMENT

1. The instant criminal miscellaneous petition has been preferred against the order dated 25.11.2021 passed by learned Sessions Judge, Sawaimadhopur in FIR No.11/2021 registered at PS Bahrawanda Kalan, Distt. Sawaimadhopur whereby the learned Judge has allowed the application filed under Section 439(2) of the CrPC on behalf of State of Rajasthan and thus cancel the bail granted to the accused petitioner by virtue of adopting course of Section 436 CrPC.

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and also learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the State. Perused the order impugned and the other material made available on record.

3. Briefly stated facts of the case are that an FIR No.11/2021 came to be registered at PS Bahrawanda Kalan, Distt. Sawaimad- hopur for the offence under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 341, 336 IPC. Since all the offences were bailable, therefore, the Investigating Officer took bail bonds of the petitioners in pur- suance of provisions contained in Section 436 CrPC. Subsequent thereto, the Investigating Officer added the offences under Section 324, 308 IPC. Since the added offences were non-bailable, there- fore, the State Government moved an application for cancellation of bail on the ground that custodial interrogation of the petitioners would be required.

4. While dealing with identical issue this court in Hanuman v. State of Rajasthan (S.B. Criminal Bail Application No.31/2021) decided on 09/11/2021 observed as under:

      "7..........In view of the principles of law propounded by the Apex Court in respect of cancellation of bail; reported in Aslam Babalal Desai v. State of Maharashtra (AIR 1993 SC Page 1) and Bhagirath Singh Jadeja v. State of Gu- jarat (AIR 1984 SC Page 372), the legal position regarding the factors to be considered at the time of cancellation of bail, can be spelt out as under:

      (i) when it is reported that after granting bail, the accused respondents have misused the liberty granted in their favour;

      (ii) they have breached the conditions, if any, imposed on them while granting bail;

      (iii) if there is material to show that after granting bail to the accused, they tried to hamper the prosecution evidence;

      (iv) when it appears that the accused-respondents are not readily available for the smooth and fair trial;

      (v) when it is apprehended that the accused will flee from justice;

      (vi) where the accused has again found involved in similar ac- tivities.

      5. It would also be worthwhile to mention here that if, how- ever, a Court of Session or the High Court finds that certain new circumstances have arisen which were not earlier known to the State it may also move an application for cancellation of bail showing only the new grounds which were not available at the time when the accused was admitted to bail. It is to be noted that rejection of bail in a non-bailable case at the initial stage and cancellation of bail already granted, have to be con- sidered and dealt with on different basis. Very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for an order di- recting the cancellation of bail already granted. The bail once granted should not be canceled in a mechanical manner with- out considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive to a fair trial to allow the ac- cused to retain freedom by enjoying concession of the bail during the trial. One another aspect of the subject is that if a superior Court finds that the court granting bail had acted on irrelevant materials, of if there was total non-application of mind or failure to take note of any statutory bar to grant bail, of if there was impropriety for example, failure to hear Public Prosecutor/complainant wherever required, order for cancella- tion of bail may be made.

      6. This Court is of the considered view that only in the circumstances mentioned above, the application for cancellation of bail requires interference under Section 439(2) CrPC. Indisputably in this case, all the circumstances necessary to

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