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MANU/PH/0347/1984
Equivalent Citation: 1985CriLJ440
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
Decided On: 29.08.1984
Appellants: Joginder Singh
Vs.
Respondent: State of Punjab
Hon'ble
M.M. Punchhi, J.

Judges:

Subject: Criminal
Catch Words
Mentioned IN
Acts/Rules/Orders:
ARMS ACT 1959 - Section 25,26,27,28,29,30,31; CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE,
1973 - Section 4,5,167; EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT, 1908 - Section 3,4,5,6; INDIAN
PENAL
CODE
(45
of
1860)
Section
34,120B,121,302,364,365,367,368,392,394,395,396,399,412,431,436,449,450
ORDER
M.M. Punchhi, J.
1. Heard. The allegation against the petitioner Joginder Singh is that on 23-4-1984 he
called Rachhpal Singh deceased from his house, took him away in the company of others
and since then Rachhpal Singh never returned home. After the disappearance of the
deceased, the case was registered on 30th April 1984. The petitioner is said to have
made a disclosure statement whereby the dead body of Rachhpal Singh was recovered
on 30th April, 1984 from underneath a water channel. Thus, the evidence against the
petitioner is of being last seen together and the recovery of the dead body. It has been
stated at the bar that at the instance of the complainant, four other persons are being
questioned who are alleged to have participated in the murder of Rachhpal Singh.
2. For the present, as it appears, the crime was committed in stealth for there is no
eyewitness to it. The petitioner in these circumstances cannot be termed as a 'terrorist'
within the meaning of Section 2(1)(h) of the Terrorist Affected Areas (Special Courts)
Ordinance, 1984 for it cannot be said at this stage whether the public or any section of it
was put in fear by his indulging in violence. Even the rigors of Section 15(5) thereof are
not attracted.
3. The petitioner is behind the bars with effect from 30-4-1984. A period of 90 days has
elapsed and the challan concededly has not been put in. Bail has been claimed on his

behalf as matter of right in view of the provisions of Section 167(2) of the Cri.PC.
Learned Counsel for the State disputes such right. Section 439-A of the Cri.PC is pressed
into service by him which is in the following terms :
439-A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, no person -(a) who, being accused or suspected of committing an offence under any
of the following Sections, namely, Sections 120B 121 364 365 367 368
392 394 395 396 399 412 431 436 449 and 450 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860, Sections 3 4 5 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and
Sections 25 26 27 28 2930 and 31 of the Arms Act, 1959, is arrested or
appears or is brought before a Court ; or
(b) who, having any reason to believe that he may be arrested on
accusation of committing an offence as specified in Clause (a), has applied
to the High Court or the Court of Sessions for a direction for his release on
bail in the event of his arrest, shall be released on bail or, as the case may
be, directed to be released on bail, except on one or more of the following
grounds, namely :
(i) that the Court including the High Court or the Court of Session
for reasons to be recorded in writing is satisfied that there are
reasonable grounds for believing that such person is not guilty of
any offence specified in Clause (a) ;
(ii) that such person is under the age of sixteen years or a woman
or a sick or an infirm person ;
(iii) that the Court including the High Court or the Court of Session
for reasons to be recorded in writing is satisfied that there are
exceptional and sufficient grounds to release or direct the release
of the accused on bail.
4. As is plain from the reading of the non obstante clause, the paramountcy of the
Section 439-A has been specifically brought to the zenith. It seemingly tends to override
Section 167(2) of the Cr. P.C. Mr. Ghai, learned Counsel for the petitioner, however, on
the strength of Surinder Kumar v. State of Punjab MANU/PH/0132/1976 contends that a
similar provision in Rule 184 of the Defence and Internal Security of India Rules, 1971
was not allowed to prevail over the provisions of Section 167(2) of the Cr PC as release
thereunder was held being in the course of investigation. The language of the said Rule
184 was in the following terms :
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of
1898), no person accused or convicted of a contravention of these rules or orders
made thereunder shall, if in custody, be released on bail on his bond unless :
(a) xxxx xxxx xxxx (b)xxxx xxxx xxxx
5. The Full Bench took the view that the combined reading of Sections 4 and 5 of the
Cri.PC and Section 37 of the Defence and Internal Security of India Act, 1971 with Rule

184 showed that the said rule would override the provisions of chap. XXXIII pertaining
to bails only to the extent they were found inconsistent with those of Rule 184. The Full
Bench also adopted approvingly from another Full Bench in Baldev Singh v.
State of Punjab MANU/PH/0106/1975 the view that the Magistrate was duty
bound and the accused was entitled as of right to be released on furnishing bail
provided the requisite condition of detention beyond sixty days was present.
6. The theory of the right of the accused to be released after the expiry of sixty or ninety
days as of right is almost whittled down. It has now been understood as only an enabling
right and not an absolute one. See in this connection State of U.P v. Luxmi Brahman
MANU/SC/0169/1983 as also a decision of this Court in Nirmal Singh v. State of Punjab
Cr. M. No. 1294-M of 1983, decided on 31st May, 1983.
7. So far as the paramountcy of Section 439-A of the Cr PC. is concerned, it would be
seen that it is a section specifically placed in Chap. XXXIII of the Code having the non
obstante clause overriding other sections. The ratio of the Full Bench in Surinder
Kumar's case MANU/PH/0132/1976 (supra) would hardly be of any help to the petitioner
as it was arrived at in the peculiar facts of that case and the provisions of law involved
therein. Bail to be claimed or granted Under Section 167 would have to be a release on
bail as if release under Chapter XXXIII for the purposes of that Chapter (emphasis
supplied). And in that very Chapter, clog has been put on the powers of the Court to
grant bail. Only for exceptional and sufficient grounds can now bail be granted and not
otherwise. Non-filing of a challan within a Reported in 1983 Chand Cri.PC. 495 period of
sixty or ninety days, as the case may be, may attract the provisions of Section 167,
Cri.PC. and may be taken note of by the High Court or the Court of Session as an
exceptional and sufficient ground, but not as a means to seek release of an accused
as of right and having regard to the facts and circumstances of each case.
8. Reverting back to the facts of the case, it seems to me that merely because the
challan has not been filed within a period of ninety days, that is not an
exceptional and sufficient ground at this stage to release the petitioner on
bail ; more so when the prosecution has collected two strong incriminating
circumstances against the petitioner i.e. of the last seen together and the recovery of
the dead body at his instance on the day when the crime was reported. The petitioner
stands accused of offences Under Section 302/364 with the aid of Section 34, Penal
Code. The aforesaid two offences are mentioned in Clause (a) of Section 439-A
prominently. There are equally no valid reasons available which the Court can record in
writing that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of
any of the aforesaid two offences. Thus, in the circumstances, bail to the petitioner
has to be declined. Ordered accordingly.

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