NDPS CASE No. 30 of 2021 · Calcutta High Court
Case at a glance
- Bench
- GAURANG KANTH, JOYMALYA BAGCHI
Provisions considered
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 ss. 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(c), 25, 29, 37
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 s. 439
Key paragraphs
- Para 11. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that he is in custody for more than two years and eight months. It is further submitted there is inordinate delay in trial. Accordingly, he prays for bail.
- Para 66. The application for bail, thus, stands allowed. (Gaurang Kanth, J.) (Joymalya Bagchi, J.) 1 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1109
Judgment
Mr. Shashanka Shekhar Saha … … for the petitioner Mr. Anirban Mitra Mr. Pralay Bhattacharyya … … for the UOI
It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that he is in custody for more than two years and eight months. It is further submitted there is inordinate delay in trial. Accordingly, he prays for bail.
Learned Advocate for the UOI opposes the prayer for bail and submits trial is in progress. Next date for recording evidence is fixed on 25.02.2024.
We have considered the materials on record. Though narcotics i.e.
25.8 kgs. of Ganja, which is above commercial quantity was recovered from the petitioner, he has suffered incarceration for more than two years and eight months. Only one witness has been examined in part till date. Delay in the matter cannot be attributed to the petitioner. There is no possibility of trial concluding in the near future. Under such circumstances, we are of the opinion petitioner has been able to make out a case of breach of his fundamental right to speedy trial and he is entitled to bail on this score. Bail prayer on the ground of inordinate delay in trial is not fettered by restrictions 2 under Section 37 of the NDPS Act. Reference in this regard may be made to Rabi Prakash vs. The State of Odisha1.
Therefore, the accused/petitioner, namely Sanoyar Hossan Jamader @ Sanayar Hassan Jamader, be released on bail upon furnishing bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten thousand only), with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local, to the satisfaction of the learned Judge, Special Court under the NDPS Act, 12th Court, Alipore, South 24-Parganas subject to condition that the said petitioner shall appear before the trial court on every date of hearing until further orders and shall not intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence in any manner whatsoever or commit similar offences in future.
In the event he fails to appear before the trial court without any justifiable cause, the trial court shall be at liberty to cancel his bail automatically without reference to this court.
The application for bail, thus, stands allowed. (Gaurang Kanth, J.) (Joymalya Bagchi, J.) 1 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1109
Precedent status how later indexed judgments have treated this case
No known negative treatment found in the Courts & Cases corpus.
This is a result about the indexed corpus, not a finding that the judgment remains good law. Coverage may be incomplete.