Lovepreet v. State of Haryana

2023:oPHHC:o115487o 245o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o

1.o CRRoNo.1360oofo2023o Lovepreetoo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento

2.o CRRoNo.1619oofo2023o Tejpalo@oTejio@oSonuo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento

3.o CRRoNo.1538oofo2023o HiraoSingho@oHerryo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento

4.o CRM-MoNo.27025oofo2023o Lovepreetoo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento

5.o CRM-MoNo.31738oofo2023o HiraoSingho@oHerryo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento

6.o CRM-MoNo.36812oofo2023o Tejpalo@oTejio@oSonuo …oPetitionero Versuso StateoofoHaryanao …oRespondento o stDateoofodecision:o1 oSeptember,o2023o CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 2k CORAM:ooHON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMANJARIoNEHRUoKAULo o Present:o Mr.oNavkiranoSinghoandoMs.oHarpreetoKaur,oAdvocatesoo forotheopetitionersoinoCRRoNos.1360o&o1538oofo2023;oo andoCRM-MoNos.31738o&o27025oofo2023oo Mr.oG.S.oSandhu,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionero inoCRRoNo.1619oofo2023oandoCRM-MoNo.36812oofo2023.oo Mr.oKanwaroSanjivoKumar,oAsst.oAdvocateoGeneral,oHaryanao forotheorespondent/State.o o MANJARIooNEHRUooKAUL,ooJ.o

1.k Allotheopetitions,odetailedohereinoabove,oareobeingotakenoupo togetheroforodisposalobyowayoofothisocommonoorderoasotheyoariseooutoofo FIRoNo.750odatedo03.09.2022ounderoSectiono18oofotheoNarcoticoDrugso andoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985o(hereinafteroreferredotooas,o'theo Act'oofo'theoNDPSoAct')oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoSamalkha,oDistricto Panipat.oForotheosakeoofoconvenience,ofactsoareobeingotakenofromoCRRo No.1360oofo2023.o

2.k Forobetteroappreciationoofofacts,oaotabulatedochartooforelevanto datesohasobeenoreproducedobelow.oo DateoandotimeoofoFIRoo 03.09.2022ooo19:34ohrso Allegedorecoveryoo TotaloweightoofoOpiumo asowelloasoplasticojaroiso 10okgso300ograms.oo Dateooroarrestoofopetitionerso 03.09.2022o ChallanofiledowithoutoFSLoreporto 23.02.2023o ApplicationobyoInvestigatingoOfficeroseekingo 24.02.2023o extensionoofotimeoforofilingoofochallanoo Orderograntingo6omonthsomoreotimeoforofilingo 24.02.2023o ofoChallanoalongowithoFSLoReporto Completionoofo180odaysotoofileochallanoasopero 02.03.2023o CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 3k Sectiono36AoNDPSoActo Applicationoforodefaultobailofiledobyopetitionerso 11.04.2023o LovepreetoandoHiraoSingho@oHerryo Applicationoforodefaultobailofiledobyopetitionero 31.05.2023o Tejpalo@oTejio@oSonuoo Petitionoforograntoofodefaultobailoofopetitionerso 12.04.2023o LovepreetoandoHiraoSingho@oHerryorejectedobyo theoLd.oASJ,oPanipatovideoimpugnedoorderoo Petitionoforograntoofodefaultobailoofopetitionero 16.06.2023o Tejpalo@oTejio@oSonuorejectedobyotheoLd.o ASJ,oPanipatovideoimpugnedoordero o

3.k Aso pero allegations,o FIRo ino questiono (Annexureo P-1)o waso registeredopursuantotooaosecretoinformationoreceivedobyotheopoliceoquaoallo theothreeopetitionersoi.e.oLovepreet,oTejpaloaliasoTejioaliasoSonuoandoHirao SinghoaliasoHerryothatotheyowereotransportingocontrabandoinohugeoquantityo fromo theo Stateo ofo Jharkhando too Panipat.o Theo petitioners,o whoo wereo allegedlyotravelingoinocarobearingoregistrationoNo.HR-06-AC-8316,owereo thenostoppedoandoapprehendedoonotheospotoandoaorecoveryoofo10okgo300o gmoOpiumowasoeffectedofromotheobootoofotheirocar.ooo

4.k Learnedo counselo haveo vehementlyo submittedo thato ino caseso registeredounderotheoNDPSoAct,ochallanohasotoobeopresentedowithino180o daysofromotheodateoofoarrestoofotheoaccused.oHowever,otheochallan,owhicho though,owasopresentedobeforeotheoexpiryoofo180odays,owasoanoincompleteo oneoasoadmittedlyonooreportoofotheoForensicoScienceoLaboratoryo(FSL)o wasopartoofoit.oItohasobeenothus,oassertedothatotheochallanowouldobeodeemedo toobeoincompleteoentitlingotheopetitionersotoodefaultobailounderoSectiono 167(2)oCr.P.C.oInosupport,olearnedocounselohaveoplacedorelianceouponoao CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 4k judgmentorenderedobyoaoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoino'AjitoSingho@o Jeetao&oanotherovs.oStateoofoPunjab'oCRRoNo.4659oofo2015.o

5.k Learnedo counselo haveo furthero arguedo thato eveno aftero theo expiryoofotheostatutoryoperiodoofo180odays,oforofilingochallanoinocaseso underotheoNDPSoAct,otheopoliceohadonotofiledoanyoreportoofotheoFSL.oStillo further,o prioro too theo expiryo ofo theo statutoryo periodo ofo 180o days,o ano applicationo datedo 24.02.2023o undero Sectiono 36A(4)o ofo theo Act,o foro extensionoofotimeoforocompletionoofoinvestigationohadonoodoubtobeenofiledo beforeotheotrialoCourt,ohowever,onooreportoofotheoPublicoProsecutor,oaso mandatedounderoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoActowasomade.oItowasoaomatteroofo recordothatoitohadobeenofiledobyoASIoAniloKumar.oLearnedocounselohaveo submittedothatoinotheocircumstances,otheotrialoCourtohadogravelyoerredoino grantingo extensiono ofo timeo too theo prosecutiono too completeo theo investigationobyoignoringotheomandateoofoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoAct.oIno support,olearnedocounselohaveoplacedorelianceoupono'HitendraoVishnuo Thakurovs.oStateoofoMaharashtra"o1994o(4)oSCCo602,owhereinoitohaso beenoheldothatoextensionoofotimeoforocompletionoofoinvestigationocanoonlyo beo grantedo ono ao reporto madeo byo theo Publico Prosecutoroando noto ono ano applicationobyotheoInvestigatingoAgency.ooo

6.k Aoprayerohasotherefore,obeenomadeothatosinceothereowasonon-complianceoofoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoAct,oanoindefeasibleorightoofodefaulto bailohadoaccruedotootheopetitioners.ooo

7.k Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselowhileoopposingotheoprayero ando submissionso madeo byo theo counselo opposite,o haso vehementlyo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 5k submittedothatoitowasoaomatterooforecordothatovideoorderodatedo24.02.2023,o theotrialoCourtohadograntedoextensionoofotimeotootheoinvestigatingoagency.o Heohasosubmittedothatotheoimpugnedoorderocouldonotobeofaultedowithoasotheo applicationocontainedoallotheorelevantodetailsoasotoowhyoextensionoofotimeo hadobeenosoughtobyotheoinvestigatingoagency,obeyondo180odays.oItohas,o however,onotobeenodisputedothatotheoapplicationoseekingoextensionoofotimeo hado beeno movedo byo theo Investigatingo Officer/o ASIo Anilo Kumar,o but,o learnedoStateocounselohasoassertedothatoitowasowellowithinotheoknowledgeo ofotheoPublicoProsecutoroasotheosaidoapplicationohadobeenodulyoforwardedo byohim.oLearnedoStateocounselohasofurtherovehementlyoarguedothatosinceo theorecoveryoeffectedowasohugeoi.e.o10okgo300ogmoofoOpium,opetitionerso cannotobeopermittedotooderiveoanyobenefit,oevenoinocase,otheoreportohado beenomerelyoforwardedobyotheoPublicoProsecutor.ooo

8.k Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedotheo relevantomaterialoonorecord.o

9.k Ino theo caseo ino hand,o theo petitionerso wereo arrestedo ono

03.09.2022.oAsoperotheosubmissionsomadeobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheo petitioners,o eveno aftero theo expiryo ofo theo statutoryo periodo ofo 180o days,o investigationoremainedoincompleteoasoadmittedlyoreportoofotheoFSLowaso notopartoofotheochallan.o

10.k Beforeo proceedingo further,o ito wouldo beo appositeo hereo too reproduceoSectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.oandoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoNDPSoAct.oo Sectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.oreadsoasofollows:-o CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 6k k k "Theo Magistrateo too whomo ano accusedo persono iso forwardedounderothisosectionomay,owhetheroheohasoorohasonoto jurisdictionotootryotheocase,ofromotimeotootime,oauthoriseotheo detentionoofotheoaccusedoinosuchocustodyoasosuchoMagistrateo thinksofit,oforoaotermonotoexceedingofifteenodaysoinotheowhole;o andoifoheohasonoojurisdictionotootryotheocaseoorocommitoitoforo trial,oandoconsidersofurtherodetentionounnecessary,oheomayo orderotheoaccusedotoobeoforwardedotooaoMagistrateohavingo suchojurisdiction:oProvidedothat-o o (a)oo theo Magistrateo mayo authoriseo theo detentiono ofo theoaccusedoperson,ootherwiseothanoinotheocustodyoofo theopolice,obeyondotheoperiodoofofifteenodays;oifoheoiso satisfiedothatoadequateogroundsoexistoforodoingoso,obuto noo Magistrateo shallo authoriseo theo detentiono ofo theo accusedopersonoinocustodyounderothisoparagraphoforoao totaloperiodoexceeding,-o o (i)oo ninetyo days,o whereo theo investigationo relateso too ano offenceo punishableo witho death,o imprisonmentoforolifeooroimprisonmentoforoaotermo ofonotolessothanotenoyears;o

(ii)oo sixtyodays,owhereotheoinvestigationorelateso tooanyootherooffence,oand,oonotheoexpiryoofotheo saidoperiodoofoninetyodays,oorosixtyodays,oasotheo caseo mayo be,o theo accusedo persono shallo beo releasedoonobailoifoheoisopreparedotooandodoeso furnishobail,oandoeveryopersonoreleasedoonobailo underothisosubsectionoshallobeodeemedotoobeosoo releasedounderotheoprovisionsoofoChapteroXXXIIIo forotheopurposesoofothatoChapter;oo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 7k

(b)oo nooMagistrateoshalloauthoriseodetentionoinoanyo custodyo undero thiso sectiono unlesso theo accusedo iso producedobeforeohim;o

(c)oo nooMagistrateoofotheosecondoclass,onotospeciallyo empoweredo ino thiso behalfo byo theo Higho Court,o shallo authoriseodetentionoinotheocustodyoofotheopolice."oo o Sectiono36A(4)oofotheoNDPSoActoreadsothus:-o "Ino respecto ofo personso accusedo ofo ano offenceo punishableounderosectiono19oorosectiono24oorosectiono27Aooro forooffencesoinvolvingocommercialoquantityotheoreferencesoino sub-Sectiono (2)o ofo sectiono 167o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974),othereofotoo"ninetyodays",owhereo theyooccur,oshallobeoconstruedoasoreferenceotoo"oneohundredo ando eightyo days":o Providedo that,o ifo ito iso noto possibleo too completeo theo investigationo withino theo saido periodo ofo oneo hundredoandoeightyodays,otheoSpecialoCourtomayoextendotheo saido periodo upo too oneo yearo ono theo reporto ofo theo Publico Prosecutoroindicatingotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigationoando theospecificoreasonsoforotheodetentionoofotheoaccusedobeyondo theosaidoperiodoofooneohundredoandoeightyodays"o o

11.k Thiso Court,o ino 'Saleemo @o Mullao vs.o Stateo ofo Haryana'o CRM-MoNo.11271oofo2021od/do26.03.2021,ohasoheldoasounder:oo o o "Aoco-jointoreadingoofoSectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.,oasowello asoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoNDPSoActorevealsothatoaogreatodealo ofoemphasisohasobeenolaidoonocompletionoofo'investigation'.o Theomootoquestionowhichothusoarisesoisoasotoowhatowouldobeo impliedo byo 'investigation'o whicho appearso ino botho theo aforementionedo Sectionso ando aso too wheno 'investigation'o wouldobeodeemedotoohaveobeenocompletedoinocasesounderotheo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 8k NDPSoAct.oSectiono2(h)oofotheoCr.P.C.,odefinesoinvestigationo as:-oo 'investigation"oincludesoallotheoproceedingsounderothiso Codeo foro theo collectiono ofo evidenceo conductedo byo ao policeo officero oro byo anyo persono (othero thano ao Magistrate)owhooisoauthorisedobyoaoMagistrateoinothiso behalf;'oo o o o Thus,owhatocanobeoculledofromotheoaboveodefinitionoofo 'investigation'oisothatoitowouldoincludeowithinoitsoambitoallo proceedingso conductedo byo theo investigatingo agencyo foro collectionoofoallosuchomaterialoandoevidenceowhichowouldo helpoinoascertainingowhetheroanooffenceohasobeenocommittedo oronot.oInootherowords,oinvestigationowouldobeodeemedotoo haveobeenocompletedoinocasesounderotheoNDPSoActoonlyoaftero ano opiniono haso beeno formedo ando giveno byo theo chemicalo examineroquaotheonatureoofotheoarticles/substanceosentotooito byotheoinvestigatingoagency.oTherefore,owithoutoaodoubtoino caseso undero NDPSo Act,o FSLo reporto wouldo beo ao decisiveo documentotoolinkotheoaccusedowithotheoallegedocommissionoofo crimeoforoattractingotheomischiefoofooffencesounderotheoNDPSo Act.oItoisopreciselyoforothisoreasonothatoitobecomesoimperativeo inocasesounderotheoNDPSoActothatotheochallanoisomandatorilyo accompaniedo byo FSLo report.o Unlessoandountilonoodefiniteo opinionoisogivenobyotheochemicaloexamineroquaotheonatureoofo theoarticlesoetc.,osent,oitowouldoleadotoonoootheroinferenceobuto theooneothatotheoinvestigationoisostilloincompleteoaso'smell'o ando 'sight'o ofo theo articles/substanceo seizedo byo theo investigatingo agencyo cannoto beo takeno too beo ao conclusiveo proofoofotheonatureoofotheoarticles/substance.oMoreover,oino theoabsenceoofotheoFSLoreportonotobeingopartoofotheochallan,o theo Magistrateo wouldo beo handicappedo too proceedo furthero CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 9k ando takeo cognizanceo ofo theo offences.o FSLo reporto ino caseso underoNDPSoActoisoanointrinsicopartoofotheoinvestigationoando ito iso foro thiso reasono thato investigationo ofo caseso undero theo NDPSo Acto wouldo haveo too beo kepto ato ao pedestal,o differento fromoinvestigationowhichoisocarriedooutoinocasesounderotheo IndianoPenaloCodeoandocertainootherostatutes."o o

12.k Stillofurther,oaoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourt,oinoAjitoSingho@o Jeeta'socaseo(supra),ohasoheldothatochallanofiledowithoutoFSLoreportowitho regardotootheonatureoofosubstanceoinoquestion,owouldobeodeemedotoobeoano incompleteochallan.oo

13.k Hence,o thiso Courto concurso witho theo submissionso madeo byo learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersothatoevenoafteroexpiryoofo180odays,o fromo theo dateo ofo theiro arrest,o investigationo remainedo incomplete.o Noo doubt,o learnedo Stateo counselo haso vehementlyo arguedo thato prioro too theo expiryoofo180odays,oanoapplicationoseekingoextensionoofotimeohadobeeno movedo byo theo prosecution,o whicho waso allowedo video ordero datedo

24.02.2023,oandothus,oinotheocircumstances,oitocouldonotobeosaidothatotimeo forocompletionoofoinvestigationohadolapsed,ohowever,othisoCourtodoesonoto findoanyomeritoinotheosaidosubmission.oAoperusaloofotheoimpugnedoordero datedo24.02.2023o(AnnexureoP-3),owhichostandsoreproducedohereinobelow,o makeso ito abundantlyo clearo thato theo applicationo hado beeno filedo byo theo InvestigatingoOfficer/oASIoAniloKumaroandonotobyotheoPublicoProsecutor.oo "Fileotakenoupotodayoasoanoapplicationoforoextensionoofo periodo ofo completiono ofo investigationo iso filedo byo ASIo Anilo Kumar.o Ito iso submittedo ino theo applicationo thato althougho CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 10k challanohasobeenopresentedobyotheopolice,otheoreportofromo FSLo Madhubano couldo noto beo procured.o Theo policeo haso writtenolettersoinothisoregardobutosomeotimeohasobeenosoughto byo theo FSLo Madhubano foro sendingo theo report.o Aso such,o extensiono underoSectiono 36A(4)o ofo NDPSo Acto beo granted.o KeepingoinoviewotheofactothatotheoreportofromoFSLoMadhubano hasonotobeenoreceivedobyotheopoliceodespiteobestoefforts,otheo applicationofiledobyoASIoAniloKumaroisoallowed.oExtensionoofo 180o dayso iso grantedo too theo policeo foro completiono ofo investigationoinotheopresentocase.oToocomeoupoono03.03.2023,o theodateoalreadyofixed."o o

14.k AsoperotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoNDPSoAct,o extensionoofotimeobeyondotheoperiodoofo180odaysocanobeograntedoonlyoonoao reportomadeobyotheoPublicoProsecutor.oItois,otherefore,oclearothatosinceotheo applicationoseekingoextensionoofotimeo(AnnexureoP-2)ohadobeenomovedobyo theoInvestigatingoOfficer,oevenoif,oasoclaimedobyotheolearnedoStateocounsel,o ito waso withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo Publico Prosecutor,o ito cano noto beo deemedotoobeonecessaryocomplianceoofotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono36A(4)o ofo theo Act.o Anyo applicationo madeo byo ano Investigatingo Officero foro extensionoofotime,oasohasobeenodoneoinotheoinstantocase,ocannotosubstituteoao reportoofotheoPublicoProsecutor,owhichoisomandatedounderoSectiono36A(4)o ofo theo NDPSo Act,o foro theo reasono thato reporto ofo theo Publico Prosecutoro underoSectiono36A(4)oofotheoAct,oisonotoaomereoformalityobutoaocrucialo documentotooassistotheoCourtoinodecidingowhetheroextensionoofotimeotoo completeo theo investigationo shouldo beo grantedo oro noto ando whethero detentionoofoanoaccusedobeyondotheostatutoryoperiodoofo180odaysowouldobeo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 11k justified.oAoPublicoProsecutorocannotoactoasoaoconduitoofotheoinvestigatingo agencyoinojustoforwardingotheorequestoforoextensionoofotime,oespeciallyo wheno theo personalo libertyo ofo theo accusedo iso ato stake.o Theo Publico Prosecutorothus,omustonecessarilyocomplyowithotheomandatoryoprovisionso ofo Sectiono 36A(4)o ofo theo Acto byo submittingo hiso report,o aftero dueo applicationoofohisomind.oo

15.k Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourt,oinoHitendraoVishnuoThakur'so caseo(ibid),ohasoheldoasounder:oo "22.oWeomayoatothisostage,oalsooonoaoplainoreadingoofo clauseo(bb)oofosub-sectiono(4)oofoSectiono20,opointooutothato theoLegislatureohasoprovidedoforoseekingoextensionoofotimeo foro completiono ofo investigationo ono ao reporto ofo theo publico prosecutor.oTheoLegislatureodidonotopurposelyoleaveoitotooano investigatingo officero too makeo ano applicationo foro seekingo extensionoofotimeofromotheocourt.oThisoprovisionoisoinotuneo witho theo legislativeo intento too haveo theo investigationso completedoexpeditiouslyoandonototooallowoanoaccusedotoobeo keptoinocontinuedodetentionoduringounnecessaryoprolongedo investigationo ato theo whimso ofo theo police.o Theo Legislatureo expectsothatotheoinvestigationomustobeocompletedowithoutmosto promptitudeobutowhereoitobecomesonecessaryotooseekosomeo moreo timeo foro completiono ofo theo investigation,o theo investigatingoagencyomustosubmitoitselfotootheoscrutinyoofotheo publicoprosecutoroinotheofirstoinstanceoandosatisfyohimoabouto theo progresso ofo theo investigationo ando furnisho reasonso foro seekingofurtherocustodyoofoanoaccused.oAopublicoprosecutoro iso ano importanto officero ofo theo Stateo Governmento ando iso appointedo byo theo Stateo underotheo Codeoofo Criminalo Procedure.oHeoisonotoaopartoofotheoinvestigatingoagency.oHeo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 12k isoanoindependentostatutoryoauthority.oTheopublicoprosecutoro isoexpectedotooindependentlyoapplyohisomindotootheorequestoofo theoinvestigatingoagencyobeforeoSubmittingoaoreportotootheo courto foro extensiono ofo timeo witho ao viewo too enableo theo investigatingoagencyotoocompleteotheoinvestigation.oHeoisonoto merelyo ao posto officeo oro ao forwardingo agency.o Ao publico prosecutoromayooromayonotoagreeowithotheoreasonsogivenobyo theoinvestigatingoofficeroforoseekingoextensionoofotimeoando mayofindothatotheoinvestigationohadonotoprogressedoinotheo propero mannero oro thato thereo haso beeno unnecessary,o deliberateo oro avoidableo delayo ino completingo theo investigation.oInothatoevent,oheomayonotosubmitoanyoreportotoo theocourtounderoclauseo(bb)otooseekoextensionoofotime.oThus,o foroseekingoextensionoofotimeounderoclauseo(bb),otheopublico prosecutoroafteroanoindependentoapplicationoofohisomindotoo theorequestoofotheoinvestigatingoagencyoisorequiredotoomakeoao reporto too theo Designatedo Courto indicatingo thereino theo progressoofotheoinvestigationoandodisclosingojustificationoforo keepingo theo accusedo ino furthero custodyo too enableo theo investigatingo agencyo too completeo theo investigation.o Theo publicoprosecutoromayoattachotheorequestoofotheoinvestigatingo officeroalongowithohisorequestooroapplicationoandoreport,obuto hisoreport,oasoenvisagedounderoclauseo(bb),omustodiscloseoono theofaceoofoitothatoheohasoappliedohisomindoandowasosatisfiedo withotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigationoandoconsideredogranto ofofurtherotimeotoocompleteotheoinvestigationonecessary.oTheo useoofotheoexpressiono"onotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutoro indicatingotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigationoandotheospecifico reasonso foro theo detentiono ofo theo accusedo beyondo theo saido period"o aso occurringo ino clauseo (bb)o ino sub-sectiono (2)o ofoSectiono 167oaso amendedo byoSectiono 20(4)oareo importanto CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 13k ando indicativeo ofo theo legislativeo intento noto too keepo ano accusedo ino custodyo unreasonablyo ando too granto extensiono onlyoonotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutor.oTheoreportoofotheo publicoprosecutor,otherefore,oisonotomerelyoaoformalityobutoao veryovitaloreport,obecauseotheoconsequenceoofoitsoacceptanceo affectso theo libertyo ofo ano accusedo ando ito must,o therefore,o strictlyocomplyowithotheorequirementsoasocontainedoinoclauseo

(bb).oTheorequestoofoanoinvestigatingoofficeroforoextensionoofo timeoisonoosubstituteoforotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutor.o Whereoeitheronooreportoasoisoenvisagedobyoclauseo(bb)oisofiledo orotheoreportofiledobyotheopublicoprosecutoroisonotoacceptedo byotheoDesignatedoCourt,osinceotheograntoofoextensionoofotimeo underoclauseo(bb)oisoneitheroaoformalityonoroautomatic,otheo necessaryo corollaryo wouldo beo thato ano accusedo wouldo beo entitledotooseekobailoandotheocourto'shall'oreleaseohioonobailoifo heofurnishesobailoasorequiredobyotheoDesignatedoCourt.oItoiso noto merelyo theo questiono ofo formo ino whicho theo requesto foro extensionounderoclauseo(bb)oisomadeobutooneoofosubstance.o Theo contentso ofo theo reporto too beo submittedo byo theo publico prosecutor,o aftero propero applicationo ofo hiso mind,o areo designedo too assisto theo Designatedo Courto too independentlyo decideo whethero oro noto extensiono shouldo beo grantedo ino ao givenocase.oKeepingoinoviewotheoconsequencesoofotheograntoofo extensiono i.e.o keepingo ano accusedo ino furthero custody,o theo Designatedo Courto musto beo satisfiedo foro theo Justification,o fromotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutor,otoograntoextensiono ofotimeotoocompleteotheoinvestigation.oWhereotheoDesignatedo Courtodeclinesotoograntosuchoanoextension,otheorightotoobeo releasedo ono bailo ono accounto ofo theo 'default'o ofo theo prosecutionobecomesoindefeasibleoandocannotobeodefeatedobyo reasonso othero thano thoseo contemplatedo byo sub-sectiono (4)o CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 14k ofoSectiono 20oaso discussedo ino theo earliero parto ofo thiso judgment.oWeoareounableotooagreeowithoMroMadhavaoReddyo orotheoAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloMroTulsiothatoevenoifotheo publicoprosecutoro'presents'otheorequestoofotheoinvestigatingo officero too theo courto oro 'forwards'o theo requesto ofo theo investigatingoofficerotootheocourt,oitoshouldobeoconstruedotoo beotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutor.oThereoisonooscopeoforo suchoaoconstructionowhenoweoareodealingowithotheolibertyoofo aocitizen.oTheocourtsoareoexpectedotoozealouslyosafeguardohiso liberty.oClauseo(bb)ohasotoobeoreadoandointerpretedoonoitso plaino languageo withouto additiono oro substitutiono ofo anyo expressionoinoit.oWeohaveoalreadyodealtowithotheoimportanceo ofotheoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutoroandoemphasisedothato heoisoneitheroao'postooffice'oofotheoinvestigatingoagencyonoroitso 'forwardingoagency'obutoisochargedowithoaostatutoryoduty.oHeo mustoapplyohisomindotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo caseoandohisoreportomustodiscloseoonotheofaceoofoitothatoheo hadoappliedo hiso mindo too theo twino conditionso containedo ino clauseo(bb)oofosub-sectiono(4)oofoSectiono20.oSinceotheolawo requireso himo too submito theo reporto aso envisagedo byo theo section,oheomustoactoinotheomanneroasoprovidedobyotheosectiono ando ino noo othero manner.o Ao Designatedo Courto whicho overlookso ando ignoreso theo requirementso ofo ao valido reporto fallsoinotheoperformanceoofooneoofoitsoessentialodutiesoando rendersoitsoorderounderoclauseo(bb)ovulnerable.oWhetherotheo publico prosecutoro labelso hiso reporto aso ao reporto oro aso ano applicationo foro extension,o wouldo noto beo ofo mucho consequenceosoolongoasoitodemonstratesoonotheofaceoofoitothato heohasoappliedohisomindoandoisosatisfiedowithotheoprogressoofo theo investigationo ando theo genuinenesso ofo theo reasonso foro grantoofoextensionotookeepoanoaccusedoinofurtherocustodyoaso CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 15k envisagedo byo clauseo (bb)o (supra).o Eveno theo mereo reproductiono ofo theo applicationo oro requesto ofo theo investigatingoofficerobyotheopublicoprosecutoroinohisoreport,o withoutodemonstrationo ofo theo applicationo ofo hiso mindo ando recordingohisoownosatisfaction,owouldonotorenderohisoreporto asotheooneoenvisagedobyoclauseo(bb)oandoitowouldonotobeoao properoreportotooseekoextensionoofotime.oInotheoabsenceoofoano appropriateo reporto theo Designatedo Courto wouldo haveo noo jurisdictionotoodenyotooanoaccusedohisoIndefeasibleorightotoo beo releasedo ono bailo ono accounto ofo theo defaulto ofo theo prosecutionotoofileotheochallanowithinotheoprescribedotimeoifo anoaccusedoseeksoandoisopreparedotoofurnishotheobailobondso aso directedo byo theo court.o Moreover,o noo extensiono cano beo grantedo too keepo ano accusedo ino custodyo beyondo theo prescribedoperiodoexceptotooenableotheoinvestigationotoobeo completedo ando aso alreadyo statedo beforeo anyo extensiono iso grantedo undero clauseo (bb),o theo accusedo musto beo puto ono noticeo andopermittedo too haveo hiso sayo soo aso too beo ableo too objectotootheograntoofoextension."o o

16.k Asoaosequelotootheoaboveodiscussionoandotheoratiooofolawolaido downobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoHitendraoVishnuoThakur'socaseo (supra),othisoCourtohasonoohesitationoinoholdingothatotheoimpugnedoorderso datedo12.04.2023oando16.06.2023opassedobyoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,o Panipat,owherebyotheopetitionersowereodeclinedotheoconcessionoofodefaulto bailounderoSectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.oasowelloasotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo

24.02.2023oofoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oPanipat,owhereinoextensionoofo timeowasograntedotootheoInvestigatingoAgencyotoocompleteoinvestigation,o deserveotoobeosetoaside.oConsequently,otheopetitionsoareoallowedoandotheo CRM-MoNos.27025,o31738o&o36812oofo2023o 16k petitionersoareoorderedotoobeoadmittedotoobailoinotermsoofoSectiono167(2)o Cr.P.C.o too theo satisfactiono ofo theo trialo Court/Magistrateo concerned.o However,oitoisomadeoclearothatoanythingoobservedohereinaboveoshallonoto beoconstruedotoobeoanoexpressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.o o o o (MANJARIooNEHRUooKAUL)o JUDGEo Septembero1,o2023o rpsoooooo Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportableo o o Yes/Nooo