Bhag Singh @ Bhagirath S/o Nihal Singh vs State Of Rajasthan

Bhag Singh @ Bhagirath S/o Nihal Singh, Aged About 50 Years, R/o 66 NP Teh. Rasingh Nagar, PS Sameja Kothi, Dist.

Sriganganagar.

(presently lodged In Central Jail Sriganganagar)

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajasthan, Through Public Prosecutor

----Respondent

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Naresh Charniya for Mr. Kalu Ram

Bhati

For Respondent(s) : Mr. B.R. Bishnoi, Public Prosecutor

HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUNNURI LAXMAN

Order

05/07/2024 1. This is the second application for suspension of sentence.

2. The appellant-applicant herein has been convicted and sentenced as below vide judgment dated 02.07.2015 passed by the learned Special Judge for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Cases (Sessions Judge), Sriganganagar in Sessions Case No.10/2014 :

Offence Sentence Fine 376(2) (Cha) Life Imprisonment Rs.5,000/-

IPC 5(D)/6 of Life Imprisonment Rs.5,000/- In default of POCSO Act, payment of fine to further 2012 undergo three months R.I.

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3. The appellant-applicant has preferred the present application for suspension of sentence under Section 389 Cr.P.C. for suspension of sentences during the pendency of the appeal and for release on bail.

4. The only plea raised by learned counsel for the appellant- applicant is that as the applicant has already undergone sentence of more than 10 years and there is no chance of hearing of the appeal in near future, thus, in view of the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 15.09.2022 in Sonadhar v. The State of Chhattisgarh : SLP (Crl.) No.529/2021, the sentence of the applicant be suspended and he be enlarged on bail.

5. Further submissions have been made that there are no reasons and / or extenuating circumstances for denial of bail.

Submissions have also been made with reference to order dated 05.10.2021 in Saudan Singh v. The State of Uttar Pradesh : SLP (Crl.) No.4633/2021, wherein also observations have been made regarding grant of bail in the appeal at the High Court stage except certain exceptions and that none of the exceptions are applicable in the present case.

6. Learned Public Prosecutor opposed the application for suspension of sentence with the submission that as the appellant- applicant has committed heinous offence, suspension of sentence of such offender would send adverse message in the society.

However, he has not denied that the appellant-applicant has already undergone sentence of 10 years during trial and after sentence.

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7. We have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and have perused the material available on record.

8. Looking to the fact that criminal appeal pertaining to year 2015 also is pending for hearing, there is no likelihood of hearing of the present appeal in near future.

9. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Saudan Singh (supra) observed an exception, which could be a broad guideline, which reads as follows :-

"1. Heinous nature of crime :

(a) Prohibited categories : To ensure public peace and the well-being of the society, life convicts who are hardened criminals, repeat offenders, kidnappers, in crimes related to massacre (three or more than three murders), habitual criminals, and fall in prohibited categories as per the U.P. Jail Standing Policy- no bail should be granted. "

10. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sonadhar (supra), while dealing with SMW (Crl.) No.4/2021 pertaining to 'life convicts in jail whose appeals are pending before the High Court' inter-alia, issued the following directions :-

"We consider appropriate to issue directions in terms of

the aforesaid suggestions to the Patna High Court and

on a pari materia basis to even the other High Courts.

However, in order to carry out this exercise, the data

would have to be compiled of such of the persons who

have been in custody for more than 10 years and more

than 14 years, with these persons being considered for

grant of bail pending appeal, if there is no chance of

hearing of the appeal in the near future, unless there are

reasons for denial of bail. We can understand if any of

the parties is delaying the appeal itself but short of that,

we are of the view that all persons who have completed

10 years of sentence and appeal is not in proximity of

hearing with no extenuating circumstances should be

enlarged on bail."

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11. Prior to that in the case of Saudan Singh (supra) also observations were made regarding grant of bail in cases where convicts have undergone sentence for sufficiently long time and appeals were pending at the High Court stage with exceptions indicated therein.

12. In the present case as observed herein-before, the appellant- applicant has already undergone sentence for 10 years and apparently, there are no chances of hearing of the present appeal in near future. Except for the fact that the appellant-applicant was involved in offence leading to his conviction for life, nothing has been brought on record by way of extenuating circumstances for denial of suspension of sentences.

13. Consequently, following the order in the case of Sonadhar (supra) and observations made in Saudan Singh (supra), without making any observations on merits of the case only on account of the fact that more than 10 years' sentences has already been undergone by the appellant-applicant, we are inclined to suspend the substantive sentences of the appellant-applicant during the pendency of the appeal.

14. Accordingly, the instant second application for suspension of sentences filed under Section 389 Cr.P.C. is allowed and it is ordered that substantive sentence passed by learned Special Judge for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Cases (Sessions Judge), Sriganganagar in Sessions Case No.10/2014 against the appellant-applicant Bhagsingh @ Bhagirath S/o Shri Nihal Singh shall remain suspended till final disposal of the aforesaid appeal and he shall be released on bail, provided he executes a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- each with two

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[2024:RJ-JD:27190-DB] (5 of 5) [SOSA-726/2024] sureties of Rs.25,000/- each to the satisfaction of learned trial Judge for their appearance in this court on 05.08.2024 and whenever ordered to do so till the disposal of the appeal on the

conditions indicated below:

1. That they will appear before the trial court in the

month of January of every year till the appeal is

decided.

2. That if the applicants change the place of

residence, they will give in writing their changed

address to the trial Court as well as to the counsel in

the High Court.

3. Similarly, if the sureties change their address(s)

they will give in writing their changed address to the

trial court.

15. The learned trial court shall keep the record of attendance of the accused-applicants in a separate file. Such file be registered as Criminal Misc. Case relating to original case in which the accused- applicants were tried and convicted. A copy of this order shall also be placed in that file for ready reference. Criminal Misc. file shall not been taken into account for statistical purpose relating to pendency and disposal of the cases in the trial court. In case the said accused-applicants do not appear before the trial court, learned trial Judge shall report the matter to the High Court for

cancellation of bail.

(MUNNURI LAXMAN),J (DR. PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI),J

45-Ramesh/BhumikaP/-

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