Satpal Singh v. State of Punjab

o o o o o o o o oo INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 123o o o o o o ooCRM-M-34924-2025o o o o o o o ooDateoofodecision:oo28.10.2025o oSatpaloSingho o o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoPunjaboo o o o o o o ....Respondento o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Ms.oGagandeepoKaur,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o o o Mr.oAmitoKumaroGoyal,oAddl.oAG,oPunjab.o o o o o o oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o

1.o o Presentopetitionoisotheosecondoattempt,owhichohasobeenofiledo undero Sectiono 439o ofo Cr.P.C.,o ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero foro granto ofo regularobailoinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.84odatedo11.07.2022,oregisteredoforotheo offencesopunishableounderoSectionso22(c)/61/85oofotheoNarcoticoDrugsoando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985o(foroshorto'NDPSoAct')oatoPoliceoStationo SadaroKotkapuraoKhan,oDistrictoFaridkot.o

2.oo o Videroorderodatedo22.07.2025oearlieropassedobyothisoCourt,otheo petitionerowasoaffordedotheoconcessionoofointerimoregularobail,owhichoreadso thus:o "CRM-26869-2025o o Applicationoforoplacingoonorecordotheozimnioorders,opursuantotoo orderoofotheoprecedingodate,oisoallowed.ooTheosameoareotakenoonorecord.oo Registryotoopaginateotheopaper-bookoaccordingly.oo CRM-M-34924-2025o CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o2o o o o

1.o Presentopetition,oisotheosecondoattemptobyotheopetitionerobeforeo thisoCourtoforograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseobearingoFIRo No.84odatedo11.07.2022,oregisteredoforotheooffencesopunishableoundero Sectionso22(c)/61/85oofotheoNDPSoActoatoPoliceoStationoSadaroKotkapurao Khan,oDistrictoFaridkot.oo

2.o Theo gravameno ofo theo FIRo ino questiono iso thato theo petitionero iso accusedo ofo consciouslyo possessingo 700o intoxicanto tabletso containingo TramadoloHydrochlorideowithototaloweightoofo278.054ogramsowhichofallso underotheocommercialoquantity.oo

3.o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothatotheopetitionero hasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestion.ooLearnedocounselo hasofurtherosubmittedothatonoorecovery,oasoallegedoinotheoprosecutiono case,ohasobeenoeffectedofromotheopetitioner.oooLearnedocounselohasofurthero iteratedothatothereowaso08odaysoinordinateodelayoinosendingotheosampleotoo FSL.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatotheomandatoryoprovisionso ofoSectionso50,o52-Aoando57oofotheoNDPSoActohaveonotobeenocompliedo withowhichovitiatesotheoprosecutionocase.ooLearnedocounselohasofurthero referred,o ino extenso,o too theo zimnio orderso passedo byo theo trialo Court,o especiallyo orderso 17.08.2023,o 12.09.2023,o 26.10.2023,o 14.11.2023,o

05.12.2023,o 20.12.2023,o 12.01.2024,o 01.02.2024,o 22.02.2024,o

14.03.2024,o 04.04.2024,o 26.04.2024,o 05.06.2024,o 17.07.2024,o

07.08.2024,o 19.09.2024,o 30.10.2024,o 19.02.2025,o 28.03.2025,o

30.04.2025oando16.05.2025orespectively;otooargueothatothereoisodelayoino culminationoofotheotrialoandotheosameoisonotoattributableotootheopetitioner.oo Thus,o learnedo counselo haso prayedo foro granto ofo regularo bailo too theo petitioner.oo

4.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso vehementlyo opposedo theo presento petitionoarguingothatotheoallegationsoraisedoareoseriousoinonatureoando thuso theo petitionero iso noto entitleo too theo concessiono ofo regularo bail.o LearnedoStateocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatotheoFIRoinoquestiono pertainso too recoveryo ofo contrabando ofo commercialo quantityo and,o therefore,o theo baro undero Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPS,o 1985o iso attracted.o LearnedoStateocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatoasoperotheoinformationo availableowithohim,onoootheroFIRo(includingounderoNDPSoAct)ohasobeeno registeredo againsto theo petitioner.o o Heo has,o accordingly,o entreatedo foro dismissaloofotheoinstantopetition.oo

5.o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveogoneothrougho CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o3o o o o

6.o Theo petitionero waso arrestedo ono 11.07.2022o whereinaftero investigationowasocarriedooutoandochallanowasopresentedoono27.07.2023.oo 13o prosecutiono witnesseso haveo beeno cited,o whicho primarilyo involvedo official/policeowitnesses,obutotheoentireoprosecutionoevidenceoisoyetotoobeo concluded.oTheorivalocontentionoofolearnedocounseloforotheoparties;oasotoo whethero theo petitionero haso beeno falselyo implicatedo intoo theo FIRo ino question,owhetheromandatoryoprovisionsoofoSectionso50,o52-Aoando57oofo theoNDPSoActoo haveobeenocompliedowithooronoto&otheoweightage/veracityoofotheoevidenceo broughtobyotheoprosecutionotillodate;oareoissuesoofocontentiousonatureo whichoareoessentiallyorequiredotoobeoratiocinatedouponoduringotheocourseo ofotrial.ooTheroCourtodoesonotodeemoitoappropriateotoodelveodeepointoo theseo rivalo contentions,o ato thero stage,o lesto ito mayo prejudiceo theo trial.oo Nothingotangibleohasobeenobroughtoforwardotooindicateotheolikelihoodoofo theopetitioneroabscondingofromotheoprocessoofojusticeoorointerferingowitho theoremainingoprosecutionoevidence.o

6.1.o Ato thero juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmentopassedobyothisoCourtotitledoasoKulwinderovs.oStateoofoPunjabo:o 2025:oPHHC:002695;orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "7.1.o o Longo back,o ino Hussainarao Khatoono vs.o HomeoSecy.,oStateoofoBiharoreportedoaso(1980)o1oSCCo81,o theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohadodeclaredothatotheorightotoo speedyo trialo ofo offenderso facingo criminalo chargeso iso "implicitoinotheobroadosweepoandocontentoofoArticleo21oaso interpretedo byo thero Court".o o Remarkingo thato ao valido procedureo undero Articleo 21o iso oneo whicho containso ao procedureothatoiso"reasonable,ofairoandojust"oitowasoheldo that:o o "Nowoobviouslyoprocedureoprescribedobyolawoforo deprivingo ao persono ofo libertyo cannoto beo "reasonable,ofairoorojust"ounlessothatoprocedureo ensureso ao speedyo trialo foro determinationo ofo theo guiltoofosuchoperson.ooNooprocedureowhichodoeso noto ensureo ao reasonablyo quicko trialo cano beo regardedo aso "reasonable,o fairo oro just"o ando ito wouldofallofouloofoArticleo21.ooThereocan,otherefore,o beonoodoubtothatospeedyotrial,oandobyospeedyotrialo weo meano reasonablyo expeditiouso trial,o iso ano CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o4o o o o integralo ando essentialo parto ofo theo fundamentalo rightotoolifeoandolibertyoenshrinedoinoArticleo21.oo Theoquestionowhichowould,ohowever,oariseoisoasotoo whato wouldo beo theo consequenceo ifo ao persono accusedoofoanooffenceoisodeniedospeedyotrialoandoiso soughto too beo deprivedo ofo hero libertyo byo imprisonmentoasoaoresultoofoaolongodelayedotrialoino violationo ofo hero fundamentalo righto undero Articleo

21."o o 7.2.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmento titledoasoAbduloRehmanoAntulayovsoR.S.oNayakoreportedo aso (1992)o 1o SCCo 225o haso re-emphasizedo theo righto too speedyo trial,o ando furthero heldo thato ano accused,o facingo prolongedotrial,ohasonoooption:o o "TheoStateoorocomplainantoprosecutesohim.ooItois,othus,otheo obligationoofotheoStateoorotheocomplainant,oasotheocaseo mayo be,o too proceedo witho theo caseo witho reasonableo promptitude.o o Particularly,o ino thero country,o whereo theo largeomajorityoofoaccusedocomeofromopooreroandoweakero sectionso ofo theo society,o noto versedo ino theo wayso ofo law,o whereotheyodoonotooftenogetocompetentolegaloadvice,otheo applicationo ofo theo saido ruleo iso whollyo inadvisable.o o Ofo course,oinoaogivenocase,oifoanyoaccusedodemandsospeedyo trialoandoyetoheoisonotogivenoone,omayobeoaorelevantofactoro inoherfavour.ooButoweocannotodisentitleoanoaccusedofromo complainingoofoinfringementoofoherorightotoospeedyotrialo onotheogroundothatoheodidonotoaskoforooroinsistouponoao speedyotrial.o"o o 7.3.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmento tiledo aso Javedo Gulamo Nabio Shaikho vs.o Stateo ofo Maharashtraoandoanother,o2024(3)oRCRo(Ciminal)o494o hasoheldoasounder:o o "18.o Criminalsoareonotobornooutobutomade.ooTheohumano potentialoinoeveryoneoisogoodoandoso,oneverowriteooffoanyo criminalo aso beyondo redemption.o o Thero humanisto fundamentalo iso ofteno missedo wheno dealingo witho delinquents,ojuvenileoandoadult.ooIndeed,oeveryosaintohasoao pasto ando everyo sinnero ao future.o o Wheno ao crimeo iso CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o5o o o o committed,oaovarietyoofofactorsoisoresponsibleoforomakingo theo offendero commito theo crime.o o Thoseo factorso mayo beo socialoandoeconomic,omayobe,otheoresultoofovalueoerosiono oro parentalo neglect;o mayo be,o becauseo ofo theo stresso ofo circumstances,oorotheo manifestationoofotemptationsoinoao milieuo ofo affluenceo contrastedo witho indigenceo oro othero privations.o o 189.o IfotheoStateooroanyoprosecutingoagencyoincludingo theo courto concernedo haso noo wherewithalo too provideo oro protecto theo fundamentalo righto ofo ano accusedo too haveo ao speedyo trialo aso enshrinedo undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono theno theo Stateo oro anyo othero prosecutingo agencyoshouldonotoopposeotheopleaoforobailoonotheogroundo thato theo crimeo committedo iso serious.o o Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono applieso irrespectiveo ofo theo natureo ofo theo crime.oo o 20.o Weomayohastenotooaddothatotheopetitioneroisostilloano accused;o noto ao convict.o o Theo over-archingo postulateo ofo criminalojurisprudenceothatoanoaccusedoisopresumedotoobeo innocento untilo proveno guiltyo cannoto beo brushedo asideo lightly,ohowsoeverostringentotheopenalolawomayobe.o o 21.o Weoareoconvincedothatotheomanneroinowhichotheo prosecutingoagencyoasowelloasotheoCourtohaveoproceeded,o theorightoofotheoaccusedotoohaveoaospeedyotrialocouldobeo saidotoohaveobeenoinfringedotherebyoviolatingoArticleo21oofo theoConstitution."o o 7.4.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;owhileodealingo witho ao bailo pleao ino respecto ofo ao caseo undero NDPSo Acto pertainingo too commercialo quantityo contraband;o ino ao judgmento titledo aso Mohdo Muslimo @o Hussainovs.o Stateo (NCToofoDelhi)oreportedoaso2023oINSCo311,ohasoobservedo asounder:o o "21.ooBeforeoparting,oitowouldobeoimportantotooreflectothato lawsowhichoimposeostringentoconditionsoforograntoofobail,o mayobeonecessaryoinopublicointerest;oyet,oifotrialsoareonoto concludedoinotime,otheoinjusticeowreckedoonotheoindividualo isoimmeasurable.ooJailsoareoovercrowdedoandotheirolivingo conditions,omoreooftenothanonot,oappalling.ooAccordingotoo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o6o o o o theoUnionoHomeoMinistry'soresponseotooParliament,otheo NationaloCrimeoRecordsoBureauohadorecordedothatoasoono st31 oDecembero2021,oovero5,54,034oprisonersowereolodgedo ino jailso againsto totalo capacityo ofo 4,25,068o lakhso ino theo country.o o Ofo theseo 122,852o wereo convicts;o theo resto 4,27,165owereoundertrials.o o 22.o Theodangeroofounjustoimprisonment,oisothatoinmateso areo ato risko ofo "prisonisation'o ao termo describedo byo theo Keralao Higho Courto ino Ao Convicto Prisonero vs.o Stateo reportedo ino 1993o Crio LJo 3242,o aso ao "ao radicalo transformation"owherebyotheoprisoner:o o "losesheroidentity.ooHeoisoknownobyoaonumber.ooHeoloseso personalopossessions.ooHeohasonoopersonalorelationships.oo Psychologicalo problemso resulto fromo losso ofo freedom,o status,opossessions,odignityoanyoautonomyoofopersonalolife.oo Theoinmateocultureoofoprisonoturnsooutotoobeodreadful.ooTheo prisonero becomeso hostileo byo ordinaryo standards.o o Self-perceptionochanges."o o 23.o Thereoisoaofurtherodangeroofotheoprisoneroturningo too crime,o "aso crimeo noto onlyo turnso admirable,o buto theo moreoprofessionalotheocrime,omoreohonouroisopaidotootheo criminal"o (alsoo seeo Donaldo Clemmer'so 'Theo Prisono Community'o publishedo ino 1940).o o Incarcerationo haso furtherodeleteriousoeffecto-oowhereotheoaccusedobelongsotoo theoweakestoeconomicostrata:oimmediateolossoofolivelihood,o andoinoseveralocases,oscatteringoofofamiliesoasowelloasolosso ofofamilyobondsoandoalienationofromosociety.ooTheocourtso therefore,ohaveotoobeosensitiveotootheseoaspectso(becauseoino theo evento ofo ano acquittal,o theo losso too theo accusedo iso irreparable),oandoensureothatotrialso–oespeciallyoinocases,o whereospecialolawsoenactostringentoprovisions,oareotakeno upoandoconcludedospeedily."o o 7.5.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;oinoaobailopleao underoNDPSoActopertainingotoocommercialoquantity;oino CriminaloAppealoNo.245/2020odatedo07.02.2020otitledoaso "Chittao Biswaso Aliaso Subhaso vs.o Theo Stateo ofo Westo Bengal"ohasoheldoasounder:-o o o "Leaveogranted.o CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o7o o o o o o Theroappealoarisesoouto ofotheofinaloOrderodatedo

30.7.2010opassedobyotheoHighoCourtoofoCalcuttaoinoCRMo No.6787oofo2019.oo o o Theo instanto mattero ariseso outo ofo applicationo preferredo byo theo appellanto undero Sectiono 439o Cr.P.C.o seekingobailoinoconnectionowithoCriminaloCaseoNo.146oofo 2018oregisteredowithoTaherpuroPoliceoStationoforooffenceo punishableounderoSectiono21-CoofotheoNarcoticoDrugsoando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985.o o o Accordingotootheoprosecution,otheoappellantowaso foundotoobeoinopossessionoofonarcoticosubstanceoi.e.o46o bottleso ofo phensydrylo cougho syrupo containingo codeineo mixtureoaboveocommercialoquantity.o o o Theo appellanto waso arrestedo ono 21.07.2018o ando continueso too beo ino custody.o o Ito appearso thato outo ofo 10o witnessesocitedotoobeoexaminedoinosupportoofotheocaseoofo prosecutionofourowitnessesohaveoalreadyobeenoexaminedoino theotrial.o o o Withoutoexpressingoanyoopinionoonotheomeritsooro demeritso ofo theo rivalo submissionso ando consideringo theo factsoandocircumstancesoonorecord,oinoouroview,ocaseoforo bailoisomadeoout."o o 7.6.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;oinoaobailopleao underoNDPSoActopertainingotoocommercialoquantity;otitledo aso "Nitisho Adhikaryo @o Bapano Vs.o Theo Stateo ofo Westo Bengal"ohasoheldoasounder:-o o o "Asoperotheoofficeoreportodatedo29.07.2022,ocopyo ofo theo showo causeo noticeo alongo witho Specialo Leaveo Petitiono waso suppliedo too theo Standingo Counselo foro theo StateoofoWestoBengaloandoseparateonoticeohasobeenoservedo ono theo Stateo also.o o However,o noo oneo haso enteredo appearanceoonotheirobehalf.o o o TheopetitioneroseeksoenlargementoonobailoinoF.I.R.o No.612o ofo 2020o datedo 17.10.2020o filedo undero Sectiono 21(c)o ando 37o ofo theo NDPSo Act,o registeredo ato Policeo StationoBongaon,oWestoBengal.o o o Duringotheocourseoofotheohearing,oweoareoinformedo thatotheopetitionerohasoundergoneocustodyoforoaoperiodoofo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o8o o o o 01oyearoando07omonthsoasoono09.06.2022.ooTheotrialoisoatoao preliminaryo stage,o aso onlyo oneo witnesso haso beeno examined.o o Theo petitionero doeso noto haveo criminalo antecedents.oo o o Takingointooconsiderationotheoperiodoofosentenceo undergoneo byo theo petitionero ando allo theo attendingo circumstanceso buto withouto expressingo anyo viewso ino theo meritsoofotheocase,oweoareoinclinedotoograntobailotootheo petitioner.oo o o Theo petitionero iso accordingly,o directedo too beo releasedoonobailosubjectotoohimofurnishingobailobondsotoo theosatisfactionoofotheoTrialoCourt."o o 7.7.o o Tootheosimilaroeffectoisotheoratioodecidendio ofotheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoSpecialo LeaveotooAppealo(Crl.)oNo.5530-2022odatedo22.08.20223o titledo aso "Mohammado Salmano Hanifo Shaikho vs.o Theo Stateo ofo Gujarat";o Criminalo Appealo No.1169o ofo 2022o datedo 05.08.2022o titledo aso Gopalo Krishnao Patrao @o GopalrusmaoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoAnkuroChaudharyo vs.oStateoofoMadhyaoPradesho2024(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o 172o o 7.8.o o Theorightotooaospeedyoandoexpeditiousotrialo iso noto onlyo ao vitalo safeguardo too prevento undueo ando oppressiveoincarceration;otoomitigateoanxietyoandoconcerno accompanyingo theo accusationo aso wello aso too curtailo anyo impairmentoinotheoabilityoofoanoaccusedotoodefendohimself,o butothereoisoanooverarchingosocietalointerestopavingowayo foroaospeedyotrial.oTherorightohasobeenorepeatedlyoactuatedo inotheorecentopastoandotheoratioodecidendioofotheoabove-referredotooSupremeoCourt'sojudgmentsohaveolaidodownoao seriesoofodecisionsoopeningouponewovistasoofofundamentalo rights.ooTheoconceptoofospeedyotrialoisoamalgamatedointoo theo Articleo 21o aso ano essentialo parto ofo theo fundamentalo rightotoolifeoandoliberty,oguaranteedoandopreservedoundero ouroConstitution.ooTheorightotoospeedyotrialobeginsowithotheo actualorestraintoimposedoatotheotimeoofotheoarrestoofotheo accusedoandoconsequentoincarcerationowhichocontinuesoato allo stages,o namely,o theo stageo ofo investigation,o inquiry,o CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o9o o o o trial,oappealoandorevisionosoothatoanyopossibleoprejudiceo thatomayoresultodueotooimpermissibleoandoavoidableodelayo sinceotheotimeoofotheocommissionoofotheooffenceotillotheo criminaloproceedingsoconsummateointooaofinality,ocouldobeo averted.o o Theo speedyo trial,o earlyo hearingo ando quicko disposaloareosineoquaononoofocriminalojurisprudence.oTheo overcrowdedo Court-dockets,o theo heavyo volumeo ofo worko ando theo resultanto pressureo ono theo prosecutiono ando theo Police,o indubitablyo keepso theo entireo criminalo jurisprudentialo mechanismo undero stresso ando strain.oo However,otherocannotobeoanoexcuseoforokeepingotheoswordo ofo Damocleso hangingo ono theo accusedo foro ano indefiniteo periodoofotime.ooItodoesonotoserveoanyocreditotootheocriminalo justiceosystem,oratheroitomakesoforoaosadostateoofoaffairs.o Theo guaranteeo ofo ao speedyo trialo iso intendedo too avoido oppressionoandopreventodelayobyoimposingoonotheoCourto ando theo prosecutiono ano obligationo too proceedo witho theo trialowithoaoreasonableodispatch.ooTheoguaranteeoservesoao threefoldopurpose.oFirstly,oitoprotectsotheoaccusedoagainsto oppressiveo pre-trialo imprisonment;o secondly,o ito relieveso theoaccusedoofotheoanxietyoandopublicosuspicionodueotoo unresolvedocriminalochargesoandolastly,oitoprotectsoagainsto theoriskothatoevidenceowillobeolostooromemoriesodimmedobyo theo passageo ofo time,o thus,o impairingo theo abilityo ofo theo accusedotoodefendohimself.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatotheo consequencesoofopre-trialodetentionoareograve.oAccused,o presumedoinnocent,otilloprovenootherwise,oareosubjectedotoo psychologicalo ando physicalo deprivationso ofo jail-life,o usuallyounderoonerousoconditions.oEquallyoimportant,otheo burdenoofodetentionoofosuchoanoaccusedofrequentlyofallso heavilyoonotheoinnocentomembersoofoherofamily.ooo o o Thereoisoyetoanotheroaspectoofotheomatterowhicho deservesoconsiderationoatotherostage.oTheoallegationsoino theopresentocaseorelateotooaccusedobeingoinvolvedoinoano FIRorelatingotoocommercialoquantityoofocontrabandoundero theoNDPSoAct,o1985.ooWhileoconsideringoaobailopetitionoino aocaseoinvolvingocommercialoquantity,otheoCourtohasotoo keepoinomindotheorigoursoenumeratedounderoSectiono37oofo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o10o o o o NDPSoAct,o1985owhichomandatesothatoCourtsocanogranto bailo too ano accusedo onlyo aftero hearingo theo publico prosecutoro ando aftero havingo satisfiedo itselfo ofo twino conditionso whicho areo reasonableo groundso foro believingo thato theo accusedo iso noto guiltyo ofo theo offenceo charged/allegedoandothat,oheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyo offenceowhileoonobail.ooTheostringentorigoursoofoSectiono37o ofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985omustobeometiculouslyoscrutinizedo againstotheobackdropoofoaccused'sofundamentalorightotooao speedyotrial.ooTheorightotoolifeoandopersonalolibertyocannoto beo renderedo nugatoryo byo unwarrantedo delayso ino theo judicialo process,o particularlyo whereo sucho delay(s)o iso neitheroattributableotootheoaccusedonorojustifiedoatotheoendo ofo theo prosecutiono byo cogento reasons.o Ano individualo cannotobeokeptobehindobarsoforoanoinordinateoperiodoofo timeobyotakingorefugeoinorigoursolaidodownoinoSectiono37o ofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985.ooTheolegislatureoinoitsowisdom,oino orderotooensureospeedyoandotimelyodisposaloofotheocaseso underotheoAct,ohasoprovidedoforotheoconstitutionoofospecialo Courtso undero Sectiono 36-Ao ofo theo Act.o o However,o thero CourtocannototurnoNelson'soeyeotootheoprotractedodelayso andosystematicoinefficiencyothatofrustrateotherolegislativeo purpose.ooAoCourtoofolawoisoduty-boundotooensureothatoito doesonotobecomeocomplicitoinoviolationoofoanoindividual'so fundamentalo rights,o notwithstandingo anythingo containedo inoaostatute.ooWhileodealingowithobailopetitionoinoaocaseo governedobyotheorigoursoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o 1985,otheoCourtomustostrikeoaojudiciousobalanceobetweeno theolegislativeointentotoocurbotheomenaceoofodrugsoandotheo sacrosanctorightoofotheoaccusedotooaofairoandoexpeditiouso trial.ooProlongedoincarceration,owithoutojustifiableocause,o riskso transformingo pre-trialo detentiono intoo punitiveo imprisonment,oanooutcomeoantitheticalotootheoprincipleoofo justiceoandoequity.oooo o o Ergo,otheounequivocaloinferenceoisothatowhereotheo trialo haso failedo too concludeo withino ao reasonableo time,o resultingoinoprolongedoincarceration,oitomilitatesoagainsto theopreciousofundamentalorightsoofolifeoandolibertyograntedo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o11o o o o underotheolawoand,oasosuch,oconditionalolibertyooverridingo theo statutoryo embargoo createdo undero Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPSoAct,o1985ooughtotoobeoconsideredoasoperofactsoofoao giveno case.o o Ino othero words,o granto ofo bailo ino ao caseo pertainingo too commercialo quantity,o ono theo groundo ofo undueo delayo ino trial,o cannoto beo saido too beo fetteredo byo Sectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985."o

7.o Revertingo too theo factso ofo theo caseo ino hand;o theo petitionero waso arrestedoono11.07.2022.ooTheopetitionerowasoextendedotheoconcessionoofo interimobailoono29.08.2022oasotheoreportoofotheochemicaloexaminerowaso notoreceived.ooThereafter,otheopetitionerowasoagainosentotootheocustodyoono

26.07.2023.ooAoperusaloofotheozimnioordersopassedobyotheotrialoCourtoibido reflectsothatotheotrialoisoprocrastinatingobutotheoconclusionothereofoisonoto visibleoinonearofutureoandodelayoinoculminationothereofocannotobeosaddledo uponotheopetitioner.ooIn-factotheozimnioordersopassedobyotheotrialoCourto reflectsothatotheorepeatedlyosummonsoasoalsoobailableowarrantsohaveobeeno issuedoagainstotheoPoliceoofficials/witnessesowhoorepeatedlyodidonototurno upotoohaveotheirotestimoniesorecorded.ooErgo,otheolongoinordinateocustodyo ofo theo petitionero aso ano undertrial,o withouto hiso beingo responsibleo foro procrastinationothereofoentitlesohimotoograntotheobenefitoofobailoinotheo factualomatrixoofotheocaseoinohand,oinotheobackdropoofotheoArticleo21oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia.oo o Indubitably,o theo petitiono ino hando iso theo secondo pleao byo theo petitionero foro securingo regularo bail.o o Theo firsto petitiono filedo byo theo petitionerowasodismissedoasowithdrawn,oatothatostage,oi.e.oono24.03.2025.oo However,otheofactoremainsothatoevenoafterotheosaidodateoi.e.o24.03.2025,o theo prosecutiono hado failedo ino itso sacrosancto dutyo too bringo fortho itso evidenceobeforeotheotrialoCourtowhichofactumoisoirrefutablyoreflectedofromo theozimnioordersodatedo18.03.2025,o30.04.2025o&o16.05.2025,opassedobyo theotrialoCourt.ooTherefore,othisoCourtoisoinclinedotoofavorablyoconsidero theoinstantopetition.ooAoprofitableoreferenceoinotheroregardoisobeingomadeo tootheodictaopassedobyothisoCourtoinoRafiqoKhanovs.oStateoofoHaryanao andoAnr.:o2024(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o819.oo

8.o o Inoviewoofotheoabove,oitoisodirectedoasounder:o

(I)o Theo petitionero iso orderedo too beo releasedo ono interimo regularobail,otillonextodateoofohearingobeforeothisoCourt,oono herofurnishingobail/suretyobondsotootheosatisfactionoofotheo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o12o o o o concernedo Specialo Court,o NDPSo Act/Dutyo Magistrate.o However,oinoadditionotooconditionsothatomayobeoimposedo byo theo concernedo Specialo Court,o NDPSo Act/Dutyo Magistrate,o theo petitionero shallo remaino boundo byo theo followingoconditions:-o o (i)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyo granted.oo o (ii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto tampero witho anyo evidence,oralooorodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo o (iii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotoabsentohimselfoono anyodateoo beforeotheotrial.oo o (iv)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotocommitoanyooffenceo whileoo onobail.oo o (v)oo Theopetitioneroshallodepositohisopassport,oifo any,oo withoo theotrialoCourt.oo o (vi)oo Theo petitionero shallo giveo hiso cellphoneo numberotooo theo Investigatingo Officer/SHOo ofo concernedoPoliceoo Stationo ando shallo noto changeohiscell-phoneonumberoo withoutoprioro permissionoofotheotrialoCourt/Illaqao Magistrate.o o (vii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotoinoanyomannerotryo toodelayoo theotrial.oo

(viii)o Theo petitionero shallo submit,o ono theo firsto workingodayoofoeveryomonth,oanoaffidavit,o beforeo theo concernedo Specialo Judgeo ofo NDPSoCourt,otootheoeffectothatosheohasonoto beenoinvolvedoinocommissionoofoanyooffenceo afterobeingoreleasedoonobail.ooInocaseotheo petitionero iso foundo too beo involvedo ino anyo offenceoafterohisobeingoenlargedoonobailoino theopresentoFIR,oonotheobasisoofohisoaffidavito oro otherwise,o theo Stateo iso mandatedo too move,oforthwith,oforocancellationoofohisobailo whicho plea,o buto ofo course,o shallo beo ratiocinatedouponomeritsothereof.o o o Inocaseoofobreachoofoanyoofotheoaforesaidoconditionsoando thoseo whicho mayo beo imposedo byo concernedo Specialo Court,o NDPSo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o13o o o o Act/DutyoMagistrateoasodirectedohereinaboveoorouponoshowingoanyoothero sufficientocause,otheoStateoshallobeoatolibertyotoomoveocancellationoofobailo ofotheopetitioner.oo

9.oo o Thereo iso anothero aspecto nayo vitalo aspecto ofo theo mattero whichocravesoforoattentionoofothisoCourt.oo o ItohasobeenorepeatedlyoobservedothatoofficialowitnessesoinoNDPSo cases—who,oinomostocases,ocompriseopoliceopersonnel—areoconsistentlyo failingotooappearobeforeotheoCourtotootenderotheiroevidence,odespiteotheo issuanceo ofo bailableo warrantso and,o ino numerouso instances,o eveno non-bailableo warrants.o Alarmingly,o thereo existo severalo caseso whereo eveno bailableowarrantsoremainounexecutedoforoextendedoperiods,oresultingoino routineoadjournmentsoofotrialsounderotheoNDPSoActosolelyoonothisocount.o Thisostateoofoaffairsoreflectsoaodeeplyodisturbingoandosystemicolapseoinotheo prosecutorialomechanism,owherebyotheotrialoisostalledoindefinitelyodueotoo theo indifferenceo oro wilfulo non-cooperationo ofo officialo witnesses.o Sucho conducto noto onlyo frustrateso theo righto ofo theo accused—whethero incarceratedooroonobail—tooaospeedyotrialoasoenshrinedounderoArticleo21o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o buto alsoo gravelyo undermineso theo administrationo ofo criminalo justice.o Theo abdicationo ofo dutyo byo officialo witnesses,owhooareoemployeesoofotheoState,oerodesopublicoconfidenceoino theo justiceo deliveryo systemo ando emboldenso criminalo elementso byo showcasingoprosecutorialoapathy.oItosetsoaodangerousoprecedentowhereo proceduralolaxityotakesoprecedenceooverojudicialoefficacy.oTheoresultanto delayo compromiseso deterrenceo ando enableso theo recyclingo ofo narcotico offendersobackointoosocietyoduringopendencyoofotrialoandoobstructsotheo overarchingoobjectiveoofotheoNDPSoAct—namely,otheocontainmentoofotheo menaceo ofo drugo traffickingo ando substanceo abuse.o Ino effect,o sucho derelictionobyoStateoofficials,oespeciallyoservingopoliceoofficials,oamountso too ano affronto too botho ruleo ofo lawo ando societalo welfare.o Senioro policeo officials—inoparticular,oatotheohelmoofotheopoliceoforceoatotheodistricto level,o i.e.o theo concernedo SSP/SPo areo alsoo undero ao boundeno dutyo too monitoro theo conducto ofo policeo officialso ando ensureo theiro presenceo foro tenderingoevidenceobeforeotheoconcernedotrialoCourt.oThisoexhibitionoofo laxityoandoapathyobyotheopoliceoofficialsodeservesoredressal.oThisoseemingo abdicationoofodutyobyotheosenioropoliceoofficials,obyonotopayingoanyoheedo toothisoconductoofopoliceoofficials,ounderotheirosupervision,oois,othus,oao maladyotoowhichothisoCourtofindsoitselfounableotooturnoaonelson'soeye.oAo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o14o o o o profitableoreferenceoinothisoregardoisobeingomadeotootheodictaopassedobyo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaocaseotitledoasoHussainaraoKhatoonoando OthersoversusoHomeoSecretary,oStateoofoBihar,oPatna;o1980(1)oSCCo98,o relevantowhereoforeads,othus:o "10.oxxxxo xxxxo xxxxo Theo Stateo cannoto avoido itso constitutionalo obligationo too provideo speedyo trialo too theo accusedobyopleadingofinancialooroadministrativeoinability.o Theo Stateo iso undero ao constitutionalo mandateo too ensureo speedyotrialoandowhateveroisonecessaryoforothisopurposeo hasotoobeodoneobyotheoState.o xxxxo xxxxo xxxx"o o o Theo dictao haso beeno furthero reiteratedo byo ao Fiveo Judgeo benchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoAbduloRehmanoAntulayoando othersoversusoR.S.oNayakoandoanother;o1992(1)oSCCo225.oFurthermore,o inoaocaseotitledoasoRanjanoDwivedioversusoC.B.I.,oThroughotheoDirectoro General;o2012(8)oSCCo495,oitowasoobservedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoasounder:o "Theo guaranteeo ofo ao speedyo trialo iso intendedo too avoido oppressionoandopreventodelayobyoimposingoonotheocourto ando theo prosecutiono ano obligationo too proceedo witho theo trialowithoaoreasonableodispatch.oTheoguaranteeoservesoao threefoldopurpose.oFirstly,oitoprotectsotheoaccusedoagainsto oppressiveopre-otrialoimprisonment;osecondly,oitorelieveso theoaccusedoofotheoanxietyoandopublicosuspicionodueotoo unresolvedocriminalochargesoandolastly,oitoprotectsoagainsto theoriskothatoevidenceowillobeolostooromemoriesodimmedobyo theo passageo ofo time,o thus,o impairingo theo abilityo ofo theo accusedotoodefendohimooroherself.oStatedoanotheroway,otheo purposeoofobothotheocriminaloprocedureorulesogoverningo speedyo trialso ando theo constitutionalo provisions,o ino particular,o Articleo 21,o iso too relieveo ano accusedo ofo theo anxietyo associatedo witho ao suspendedo prosecutiono ando provideoreasonablyopromptoadministrationoofojustice."o o

10.oo o Inoviewoofotheostateoofoaffairsoasoemanatingoabove,obeforeo delvingofurtherointootheoaboveomalady,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotoo direct,othus:oo CRM-M-34924-2025o o P a g e o|o15o o o o I.o SenioroSuperintendentoofoPolice,oFaridkotoisodirectedotoo bringo forth,o ono affidavit,o theo relevanto extanto applicableo SOP/Circulars,oincludingothoseoissuedobyotheo HomeoSecretary,o Punjabo aso wello aso theo Directoro Generalo ofo Police,o Punjabo regardingo theo appearanceo ofo officialo witness,o especiallyo policeo witness,obeforeotrialoCourt(s)oinotheoStateoofoPunjab.o II.o SenioroSuperintendentoofoPolice,oFaridkotoisodirectedotoo lookointootheoaspectoofotheoculpabilityoofopoliceoofficials/witness(s)o notocomingoforwardotoohaveotheirotestimoniesorecordedoinotheotrialo ino questiono especiallyo eveno aftero theo learnedo trialo Courto hado repeatedlyo issuedo bailableo warrantso againsto them,o theo reasono thereofo ando person(s)o responsibleo foro non-serviceo ofo sucho bailableowarrants.oSenioroSuperintendentoofoPolice,oFaridkotoiso alsoodirectedotoofurnishodetailsooforequisiteoremedialomeasures,o includingotheodetailsoofodisciplinaryoactionoetc.,oifoany,oinitiatedo againstosuchodelinquentoofficial(s).oAnoaffidavitobeofiledobyoSenioro SuperintendentoofoPolice,oFaridkotodelineatingotheseodetailsoonooro beforeotheonextodateoofohearing.o o o Listoono07.08.2025."o

3.oo o LearnedoStateocounselohasobroughtotootheonoticeoofothisoCourto thatotheoentireoprosecutionoevidenceostandsoexaminedoandotheocaseoisonowo fixedoforodefenceoevidence.o

4.oo o Thereoisonooallegationoagainstotheopetitioneroofohavingomisusedo theo concessiono ofo interimo regularo bailo earliero extendedo too him.ooo Accordingly,oinoviewoofotheoabove,otheopetitionoisoallowedoandotheointerimo ordero datedo 22.07.2025o iso herebyo confirmed,o subjecto too theo followingo conditions:ooo o (i)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyogranted.oo o (ii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto tampero witho anyo evidence,o o oraloorodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo o (iii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotoabsentohimselfoonoanyodateo CRM-M-34924-2025 P a g e | 16

o

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail.

(v) The petitioner shall deposit his passport, if any, with the trial Court.

(vi) The petitioner shall give his cell phone number to the Investigating Officer/SHO of concerned Police Station and shall not change his cell-phone number without prior permission of the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate.

(vii) The petitioner shall not in any manner try to delay the trial. ,8iii-o :heo petitionero shallo submit,o ono theo firsto wor4in"o dayo ofo e8eryo month,o ano affida8it,o beforeo theo concernedo trialo!ourt,otootheoeffectothatoheohasonotobeenoin8ol8edoino commissionoofoanyooffenceoafterobein"oreleasedoonobail.o$no caseotheopetitioneroisofoundotoobeoin8ol8edoinoanyooffenceo afterohisobein"oenlar"edoonobailoinotheopresento#$%,oonotheo basisoofohisoaffida8itoorootherwise,otheoStateoisomandatedotoo mo8e,oforthwith,oforocancellationoofohisobailowhichoplea,o butoofocourse,oshallobeoratiocinatedouponomeritsothereof.oo o

¶5In case of breach of any of the aforesaid conditions and those which may be imposed by concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate as directed hereinabove or upon showing any other sufficient cause, the State/complainant shall be at liberty to move cancellation of bail of the petitioner.

¶6Ordered accordingly.

¶7Nothing said hereinabove shall be construed as an expression CRM-M-34924-2025 P a g e | 17

o

¶8Since the main case has been decided, pending miscellaneous application, if any, shall also stands disposed off.

(SUMEET GOEL) JUDGE October 28, 2025 $a2een Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No