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2026 Supreme(Online)(Ori) 3162

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
G. Satapathy, J
Adikanda Swain – Appellant
Versus
State of Orissa – Respondent
BLAPL No. 1503 of 2026



Important Points

The Court held that bail for offences punishable by life imprisonment requires strict adherence to Section 481(1)(i) of BNSS and that Section 35(3) BNSS cannot be applied to offences punishable by more than seven years.

Subject

Criminal - Bail

Act Referred

Headnote

(A) Bail - Non-bailable offences - Section 481(1)(i) BNSS - Where an offence is punishable with imprisonment for life, the court must record reasonable grounds for believing the accused is not guilty or satisfy specific provisos before granting bail; failure to do so by the lower court constitutes a legal error. (Para 3)

(B) Procedural Law - Notice under Section 35(3) BNSS - Notice under this section is applicable only to cognizable offences punishable with imprisonment for a term less than or up to seven years; applying this provision to offences punishable by life imprisonment is an error of law. (Para 6)

(C) Discretion of High Court - Grant of Bail - After the completion of investigation and submission of the charge sheet, the High Court may exercise its discretion to admit petitioners to bail subject to conditions without expressing a view on the merits of the case. (Para 4, 5)

Issues: Whether the petitioners are entitled to bail and whether the lower court's grant of bail to co-accused based on Section 35(3) of BNSS was legally sustainable.

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: K.P. Dash
For the Respondents: C. Mahanty

Table of Content
1. application for bail in a case involving culpable homicide not amounting to murder. (Para 1 , 2)
2. analysis of statutory restrictions on bail for offences punishable by life imprisonment under bnss. (Para 3)
3. grant of bail following the submission of the charge sheet and imposition of conditions. (Para 4 , 5)
4. correction of the lower court's misapplication of notice provisions for serious offences. (Para 6)
5. formal disposal of the bail application and administrative directions. (Para 7)

G. Satapathy, J.

1. This is an application U/S.483 of BNSS by the petitioners for grant of bail in connection with GR Case No. 1875 of 2025 arising out of Bhanjanagar PS Case No. 1130 of 2025 pending in the file of learned SDJM, Bhanjanagar, Dist-Ganjam for commission of offences punishable U/Ss.105/ 296/ 115(2)/ 126(2)/ 351(2)/3(5) of BNS, on the main allegation of committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

2. Heard, Mr. Kuresh Prasad Dash, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Mr. C. Mahanty, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record.

3. After having considered the rival submissions upon perusal of record, there appears allegation against the Petitioners for assaulting the deceased by giving fist and kick blows as well as trying to assault with a rod, but the deceased subsequently succumbed to the injuries, however, the IO on completion of investigation submitted charge sheet U/Ss. 105/ 296/ 115(2)/ 126(2)/ 351(2)/ 3(5) of BNS, cognizance of which has been already taken. It is not in dispute that Sec. 105 of BNS prescribes punishment of imprisonment for life or imprisonment for not less than five years, but which may extend to 10 years and such offence is triable by Court of Sessions. It is not dispute that the learned SDJM, Bhanjanagar has granted bail to co-accused Radhamohan Swain, Madan Swain and Sujata Bisoyi for the selfsame accusations, but Sec. 480(1)(i) of the BNSS provides that when any person accused of, or suspected of, the commission of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by an officer in charge of a police station or appears or is brought before a Court other than the High Court or Court of Session, he may be released on bail, however, Sec. 481(1)(i) of BNSS provides that such person shall not be so released, if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life However, in the present case, one of the offences alleged against the Petitioners is U/S. 105 of BNS which prescribes one of the punishments as imprisonment for life, but the learned SDJM, Bhanjanagar has granted bail without recording any reason on the ground as stated in Sec.481(1)(i) of BNSS or on the ground as provided in proviso appended to the aforesaid Section which reads as under:-

“Provided that the Court may direct that a person referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) be released on bail if such person is under the age of 16 years or is a woman or is sick or infirm”

4. In the fitness of the things and taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the offences as alleged against the petitioners vis-a-vis the accusations sought to be brought against them and regard being had to the materials placed on record and the deceased having died subsequently in the Hospital and after completion of investigation, charge sheet having already been submitted for offences U/Ss. 105/ 296/ 115(2)/ 126(2)/ 351(2)/3(5) of BNS, this Court without expressing any view on merits admits the Petitioners to bail, but subject to certain conditions.

5. Hence, the bail application of the Petitioners stands allowed and they are allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) only each with one solvent surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it with followi

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