The court considered the prolonged custody, lack of involvement in other criminal cases, and the likely delay in trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for granting regular bail to the petitioner.

Headnote:
Bail - Dispute over Agriculture Field - The court granted regular bail to the petitioner, considering the prolonged custody, lack of involvement in other criminal cases, and the likely delay in trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact of the Case:

The petitioner sought regular bail in a case involving a dispute over the embankment of an agriculture field, where he allegedly gave a solitary blow with a spade. The FIR initially registered under lesser sections later had more serious sections added as the deceased expired after the incident. The petitioner had been in custody for over 2 years and 4 months.
Finding of the Court:

The court, considering the prolonged custody, lack of involvement in other criminal cases, and the likely delay in trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic, deemed it a fit case to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioner.
Issues: The issues involved the severity of the charges, the petitioner's custody duration, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trial proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the prolonged custody, lack of involvement in other criminal cases, and the likely delay in trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Final Decision: The court allowed the instant petition and ordered the petitioner to be released on regular bail upon furnishing requisite bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned.

JUDGMENT

Anupinder Singh Grewal, J. - Case taken up through video conferencing.

2. The petitioner is seeking regular bail in FIR No.111 dated 25.06.2019, initially registered under Sections 323, 324, 506/34 IPC (Sections 307 & 302 IPC added later on), registered at Police Station Rajaund, District Kaithal.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the incident took place due to sudden quarrel over the dispute pertaining to embankment of agriculture field. The petitioner is alleged to have given a solitary blow with a spade (kasaula). He further contends that the FIR was initially registered under Sections 323, 324 IPC and later on, Sections 302 and 307 IPC were added as the deceased expired after 3 ?1/2 months of the incident. The petitioner is 23 year of age and is not involved in any other criminal case. He also contends that it would be arguable as to whether offence under Section 302 IPC would be made out in the afore-noted facts and circumstances. The petitioner is in custody for over 02 years and 04 months

Learned State counsel, upon instructions from SI Wazir Singh, contends that 07 out of 21 prosecution witnesses have been examined.

Heard.

4. In view of the above, especially when the petitioner is in custody for over 02 years and 04 months, he is not involved in any other case, the COVID-19 pandemic and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time, I deem it a fit case to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioner.

5. Therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the instant petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing requisite bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned.

Criminal miscellaneous application, if any, also stands disposed of.

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