IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

130 CRM-M-62111-2025 (O & M)

Date of decision: 06.11.2025 Manpreet Singh @ Rimpy ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present : Mr. GS Bhatia, Advocate for the petitioner.

(through hybrid mode)

AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL)

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 528 BNSS for quashing the order dated 20.02.2025, Annexure P-6, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Tarn Taran, in FIR No.427 dated 11.12.2019, registered under Section 22 of NDPS Act, vide which bail of the petitioner was cancelled and non-bailable warrants were issued against him.

2. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner was granted regular bail on 20.02.2020, whereafter, he continued to appear before the trial Court but for 17.06.2020, due to Covid-19 pandemic. Thereafter, notices were sent to him but remained unserved. Consequently, bailable warrants were issued on 04.07.2024, which have also been received back unserved, leading to issuance of non-bailable warrants vide impugned order dated 20.02.2025 and cancellation of bail, forfeiture of bonds to the State. Thus, his absence is neither wilful nor deliberate and ready and willing to join the proceedings on or before the next date of hearing which is 18.11.2025 and prays for grant of one opportunity for him to surrender before the trial Court, even if the same is subject to costs.

3. Notice of motion.

4. At the asking of the Court, Ms. Gagandeep Kaur, DAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and submits that the non-bailable warrants have been rightly issued against the petitioner, as he had absented from the proceedings.

5. Heard.

6. The very purpose of issuance of warrant of arrest, is to compel and secure the presence of the accused to face trial and establish the rule of law, as also to ensure finalization of the proceedings.

7. This Court in CRM-M-36490-2022, titled as Major Singh vs. State of Punjab, decided on 15.09.2022, CRM-M-38277-2022, titled as Surjit Singh vs. State of Punjab, dated 26.08.2022 and CRM-M- 39000-2022, titled as Raghav vs. State of Punjab, decided on

09.09.2022, had set aside the orders of non-bailable warrants.

8. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, judgments referred to hereinabove, the readiness and willingness of the petitioner to surrender and join the proceedings, which was incumbent upon him for the culmination of the same, the present petition deserves to be and is allowed, in the interest of justice, so as to facilitate expediting the trial and for taking it to its logical end.

9. As a consequence of the aforesaid, the impugned order dated 20.02.2025, Annexure P-6, is set aside, subject to surrender by the petitioner before the trial Court on or before 20.11.2025 and payment of costs of Rs.25,000/- to be deposited with Shree Mata Mansa Devi Bhandar Committee Charitable Trust (Regd.) having its Account No.50100238189041, IFSC Code-HDFC0000108, HDFC Bank, Sector-8, Panchkula, within a period of 15 days. On furnishing bail/surety bonds, the trial Court shall release him on bail subject to its satisfaction. He is also directed to furnish an undertaking by way of an affidavit that he will appear on each and every date of hearing before the trial Court, unless specifically exempted by the Court. He shall not leave the country without prior permission of the Court. The trial Court may impose any other condition that it may deem appropriate in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

10. Before parting with this order, it is made abundantly clear that in case the petitioner does not adhere to the aforesaid, the present petition shall be deemed to have been dismissed without any reference to this Court.

06.11.2025 (AMAN CHAUDHARY)

JUDGE ashok