Soma Devi v. Ut of J and K Th Incharge S.H.O. Police Station, Kanachak, Jammu

ORDER (07.08.2026)

¶01The petitioner, through the medium of this petition filed under Section 528 read with Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita,

(BNSS), 2023, seeks quashment of order dated 31.10.2025 passed by the court of learned Special Judge, NDPS Cases, Jammu, in case titled "UT of J&K Vs. Soma Devi", whereby the interim bail granted on medical ground to the petitioner earlier by the trial court has been cancelled without affording an opportunity of being heard and without considering the document furnished by the Medical Board to prevent abuse of Regular List Serial No. 09

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process of law and for the ends of justice and prayed that she be admitted to bail in case titled "UT of J&K Vs. Soma Devi", arising of FIR No. 37/2020 registered at Police Station, Kanachak, Jammu for the commission of offences under Sections 8, 21 & 22 of NDPS Act.

¶02This Court vide order dated 27.12.2025, admitted petitioner to interim bail, subject to filing of objections with appropriate conditions. The respondent has failed to file the reply/objections despite availing opportunities in this behalf, as such, the matter is being considered.

¶03Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is of the age of more than 80 years and has been suffering from Locomotive Orthopaedic disease, restricting her movement and that in view of the Medical Board's report, she has been suffering from Osteoarthritis of joints including both shoulders right more than left and both knees and that the limitation of movement and pain are terminal.

¶04Learned counsel for the respondent, however, opposed the plea of the learned counsel for the petitioner on the ground that the petitioner is involved in a case attracting the rigour of Section 37 of NDPS Act, which bars the grant of bail to the accused, even on medical grounds. Learned counsel for the parties, however, submit that the case before the trial court is in advance stage of the trial and only the IO is left to be examined whose partial statement is also stated to have been recorded.

¶05In this situation of the matter, there could not be any apprehension of tampering of the evidence by the petitioner and the contention of the learned counsel for the respondent that even on medical grounds, the bar under Section 37 of NDPS Act will be applicable, is not tenable and is,

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accordingly, rejected. The present petition in view of the petitioner being woman, in her advanced age of more than 80 years and suffering from Locomotive Orthopaedic disease, is thus, allowed and the order dated

27.12.2025, passed by this Court, granting bail to the petitioner, is made absolute.

¶06The petition is, accordingly, disposed of.

(M A CHOWDHARY) JUDGE JAMMU

07.08.2026

SUNIL

Whether the order is speaking ? :

Whether the order is reportable ? :

CRM(M) No. 1385/2025 HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU Pronounced on: 07.08.2026 Uploaded on: 07.08.2026 CRM(M) No. 1385/2025 Soma Devi, age 82 years, W/O Late Sh. Shanker Dass, R/O Village Dub Ditta, Tehsil Marh, District Jammu ……Petitioner Through: Mr. Rakesh Chargotra, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Abhishek Verma, Advocate Vs Union Territory of J&K, Through Incharge/SHO, Police Station, Kanachak, Jammu .….Respondent Through: Mr. P.D. Singh, Dy. AG CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M A CHOWDHARY, JUDGE