The court's decision was influenced by the analysis of the maximum punishment for each offense and the absence of applicability of Section 3(2)(v) of The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

VIJAY LAKSHMI, J.

1. The present appeal has been preferred against the order dated 13.7.2017 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No. 4, Mainpuri, in Bail Application No. 1011 of 2017 arising out of Case Crime No. 122 of 2017, Rajveer v. State, under Sections 354, 452 I.P.C., 7/8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences and section 3 (2) V SC/ST Act P.S.-Kurra, District-Mainpuri, whereby the bail application of the appellant has been rejected.

2. The record shows that the State had received notice of the appeal on 25.7.2017 through A.G.A. A perusal of the order sheet shows that vide order dated 18.8.2017, this Court had directed to issue notice to O.P. No. 2 by FAX and as per office report dated 21.9.2017, based on Chief Judicial Magistrate's report, the notice was personally served on O.P. No. 2 on 09.9.2017.

3. However, despite expiry of a considerable period, neither the State nor O.P. No. 2 has filed any counter affidavit.

4. In aforesaid circumstances, I proceed to decide this appeal on merits on the basis of available record.

5. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and the learned A.G.A. Perused the records.

6. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that the appellant is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case due to the reason that the father of the victim had borrowed Rs. 1 lakhs as debt from the appellant but he did not return the money even after a lapse of two years. When the appellant demanded the same, he, with mala fide intention lodged a false report against the appellant. It is further contended that initially, the F.I.R. against the appellant was lodged under Sections 354 I.P.C., Section 7/8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 3 (1) (11) SC/ST Act. However, during investigation, the police added Section 452 I.P.C. and substituted section 3 (2) (v) SC/ST Act, in place of Section 3 (1) (11) SC/ST Act. Learned counsel for the appellant has vehemently contended that the offence under section 3 (2) (v) SC/ST Act is not made out against the appellant and rest of the offences are not grave. However, the court below, without keeping in view the legal provisions, has mechanically rejected the bail application of the appellant. It is lastly submitted that the appellant has no criminal antecedent to his credit, he is languishing in jail since 31.5.2017, there is no likelihood of early disposal of trial and the appellant undertakes that if enlarged on bail, he will never misuse his liberty and will co-operate in the trial.

7. Learned A.G.A. has opposed the payer for bail.

8. Considered the rival submissions of learned counsel for the parties. The appellant has been roped under Sections 354, 452 I.P.C., 7/8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences and section 3 (2) (v) SC/ST Act.

9. Section 3(2)(v) of The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 enacts as under:-

"whoever, not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, commits any offence under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) punishable with imprisonment for a term of ten years or more, against a person or property on the ground that such person is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or such property belongs to such member, shall be punishable with imprisonment for life and with fine. Before coming to any conclusion with regard to applicability of section 3(2) (v) of SC/ST Act, 1989, in the present case, it appears expedient to have a look at maximum punishment as provided for under the sections in which the appellant has been roped in.

10. Section 8 of the POCSO Act, provides punishment for sexual assault, according to which:-

"whoever, commits sexual assault, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine."

11. Section 354 I.P.C. is punishable with imprisonment for a maximum period of