The main legal point established in the judgment is the consideration of prolonged custody and the likelihood of serving out the sentences awarded by the trial court in granting bail and suspending the sentences during the pendency of the appeal.

JUDGMENT

Vinod Kumar Bharwani, J. - The instant application for suspension of sentence under Section 389 CrPC has been preferred on behalf of the appellant-applicant Jethmal S/o Dami Chand, who has been convicted and sentenced for the offence under Section 8/15 (C) of the NDPS act vide the judgment dated 20.08.2019 passed by the learned Special Judge, NDPS Cases, Pali in Sessions Case No.140/2016 (01/2020).

2. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

3. as per the prosecution case, the appellant was apprehended with 14 gunny bags containing contraband poppy straw weighing 290 Kgs when the search was conducted by the SHO PS Sadar, District Pali. Learned counsel submits that no other case under the NDPS act has been registered against the accused-appellant. He further submits that the appellant has served actual sentence of five years six months whereafter this application for SOS has been moved.

4. Learned Public Prosecutor was instructed to place on record the antecedent report of the appellant. as per the report received from the SHO Police Station Sadar, District Pali no case other than the present one has been registered against the appellant. The appellant has remained in custody for more than five years. Hon'ble the Supreme Court considered the concept of grant of bail on account of prolonged custody in the case of Saudan Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh (Petition for Special Leave to appeal (Crl.) No.4633/2021 decided on 05.10.2021) and Manohar Lal ainani vs State of Rajasthan and anr (Petition for Special leave to appeal (Cri) No.2893/2021 decided on 15.11.2021).

5. In the case of Manohar Lal (supra), the custodial period of more than five years was considered sufficient to grant bail to the said accused. There are bleak chances of early disposal of the appeal and if the accused is not extended indulgence of bail, he is likely to serve out the sentences awarded to him by the trial court. as a consequence, I am of the firm opinion that conditions of Section 32-a read with Section 37 of the NDPS act are duly satisfied.

6. In this background and having regard to the overall facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to enlarge the appellant-applicant on bail by suspending his sentences during the pendency of the appeal.

7. accordingly, the instant second application for suspension of sentences filed under Section 389 Cr.P.C. is allowed and it is ordered that the sentences passed by learned Sessions Judge, Pali, vide judgment dated 20.09.2019 in Sessions Case No.140/2016 (01/2010) against the appellant-applicant Jethmal S.o Dami Chand shall remain suspended till final disposal of the aforesaid appeal and he shall be released on bail subject to the condition that he shall furnish personal bond in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with two sureties of Rs.50,000/- each to the satisfaction of the learned trial Judge for his appearance in this court on 02.03.2022 and whenever ordered to do so till the disposal of the appeal on the conditions indicated below:-

1. That he will appear before the trial Court in the month of January of every year till the appeal is decided.

2. That if the applicant changes the place of residence, he will give in writing his changed address to the trial Court as well as to the counsel in the High Court.

3. Similarly, if the sureties change their address(s), they will give in writing their changed address to the trial Court.

8. The learned trial Court shall keep the record of attendance of the accused-applicant in a separate file. Such file be registered as Criminal Misc. Case related to original case in which the accused-applicant was tried and convicted. a copy of this order shall also be placed in that file for ready reference. Criminal Misc. file shall not be taken into account for statistical purpose relating to pendency and disposal of cases in the trial court. In case the said accused applicant does not appear before the trial