Jaswinder Singh Alias Kala v. State of Punjab

o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o o o Dateoofodecision:o21.07.2025o o JaswinderoSinghoaliasoKalao o o o o ....Petitionerooo o V/so o StateoofoPunjabo o o oo o o o ....Respondento o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oRuhanioChadha,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oDurgeshoGarg,oAAGoPunjab.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.oo

1.o o Theopresentopetition,oisotheofirstoattemptobeforeothisoCourtobyotheo petitioner,ounderoSectiono483oofoBNSS,o2023oforograntooforegularobailoinoFIRo No.21odatedo15.04.2025oregisteredounderoSectiono21-CoofoNarcoticoDrugso andoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'NDPSo Act')oandounderoSectionso27-Aoando29oofoNDPSoActo(addedolateroon)oatoPoliceo StationoBehrampur,oDistrictoGurdaspur.oo

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoinoquestionoisothatoono15.04.2025,oSubo InspectoroGurmukhoSingh;oaccompaniedobyoASIoJagiroChand,oASIoSatnamo SinghoandoManjitoSingh,oSRCoDaljitoSinghoandoPHGoNareshoKumar;owaso conductingo anti-droneo patrollingo ino theo governmento vehicleo alongwitho standardo investigativeo equipmento nearo theo villageso ofo Tooro ando Mummyo ChackoRangaoetcoandowereoheadingotowardsotheoRavioriver.ooWhileosearchingo theoriverbank,otheopoliceopatrollingoteamoobservedotwooyoungomenoloiteringo AJAYgKUMAR suspiciously.oOnonoticingotheopolice,ooneoofothemolateroidentifiedoasoSahilo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 2o o KumarosonoofoMukeshoKumaroofoToorovillage,odiscardedoaopolytheneobago intoo nearbyo busheso ando attemptedo too retreat.o Botho theo individualso wereo interceptedoandouponoinquiry,otheosecondomanoidentifiedohimselfoasoRajano KumaroaliasoGama,osonoofoKewaloKrishan,oalsooaoresidentoofoToorovillage.oo Afteroformallyoexplainingotheirolegalorights,obothotheosuspectsoconsentedotooano onotheospotosearch.ooTheodiscardedobagowasoinspectedowhichocontainoheroino weighingo255ogramso(includingopackaging).ooTheocontrabandowasoresealedoino theo sameo polytheneo ando placedo ino ao plastico boxo ando waso subsequentlyo entrustedotooASIoSatnamoSingh.ooTheoheroin,otogetherowithopolytheneobag,o wasoseizedoviaoaoformalorecoveryomemo.ooBothotheoaccusedowereobookedo underoSectionso21(c)/61/85oofoNDPSoActoforopossessionoofo255ogramsoofo heroin.ooASIoManjitoSinghowasodispatchedowithotheoruqaotooregisterotheoFIR.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner,o iteratingo theo causeo ofo theo petitioner,ohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheo FIRoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatotheoonlyomaterialo availableowithotheoprosecutionoagainstotheopetitioneroisoaodisclosureostatemento madeobyotheoco-accusedo–oSahiloKumar.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedo thatotheopetitionerohasobeenoinocustodyoinootheroFIR(s)oforotheolasto2/3oyearso andonoomobileophoneohasobeenorecoveredofromohimoinotheojail.ooLearnedo counselohas,othus,osubmittedothatothereoisonoocorroborativeomaterialoagainsto theopetitionerootherothanotheosaidodisclosureostatementomadeobyoco-accusedo SahiloKumarowhichostatementocannotowithstandojudicialoscrutiny.oOnostrengtho ofotheseosubmissions,otheograntooforegularobailoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Onotheocontrary,olearnedoStateocounselohasostrenuouslyoopposedo theopleaoforograntooforegularobailobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoagainstotheo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 3o o petitioneroareoseriousoinonature.ooLearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedothatotheo petitioneroisoaccusedoofobeingoinvolvedoinoaocaseopertainingotoorecoveryoofo 255o gramso ofo heroino ando Rs.4,70,000/-o ofo drugo money.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato theo presento caseo involveso commercialo quantityoofocontrabandoasoenvisagedoinoNDPSoActoand,othus,otheopleaoofotheo petitionero iso too beo consideredo ino lighto ofo Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPSo Acto (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'Sectiono37').ooLearnedoStateocounselohasoplacedo onorecordotheocustodyocertificateodatedo09.07.2025otooargueothatotheothereoareo 04ootheroFIR(s)oagainstotheopetitionerounderotheoNDPSoActoapartofromo01o othero FIRo undero theo Prisonso Act.o Ono theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,o learnedoStateocounselohasosoughtoforodismissaloofotheopetitionoinohand.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheorecord.oo PrimeoIssueo

6.o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesoforocogitationoinotheopresento petitionois;otheoparametersoforoapplicationoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o 1985;owhileodealingowithoaoregularobailopetitionounderothisoAct.oo o o Theo analogouso issueo thato ariseso foro considerationo iso aso too whethero theo petitionero iso entitledo foro granto ofo regularo bailo ino theo FIRo ino questionoinoitsofactualomilieu.ooo

7.o o RelevantoStatutoryoProvisionsoo

(i)o o NDPSoACT,o1985o o o Sectiono37o(asoapplicableow.e.f.o29.05.1989)o o "37.o Offenceso too beo cognizableo ando non-bailable,o ––o (1)o NotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o AJAYgKUMAR 1973o(2oofo1974)o––o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 4o o o (a)o everyo offenceo punishableo undero thiso Acto shallo beo cognizable;o o (b)o noopersonoaccusedoofoanooffenceopunishableoforo[offenceso underosectiono19oorosectiono24oorosectiono27Aoandoalsooforooffenceso involvingocommercialoquantity]oshallobeoreleasedoonobailooroonohiso ownobondounlesso––o o (i)o theo Publico Prosecutoro haso beeno giveno ano opportunityotooopposeotheoapplicableoforosuchorelease,oando o (ii)o whereo theo Publico Prosecutoro opposeso theo application,otheocourtoisosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableo groundsoforobelievingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffenceo andothatoheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoono bail.o o 2.o Theolimitationoonograntingoofobailospecifiedoinoclauseo(b)oofosub-sectiono(1)oareoinoadditionotootheolimitationsounderotheoCodeoofoCriminalo Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974)ooroanyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,o onograntingoofobail.]o

(ii)oo Theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973o (hereinaftero too beo referredoaso'theoCr.P.C.)oo "437.oWhenobailomayobeotakenoinocaseoofonon-bailableooffence.o––o[(1)oWheno anyopersonoaccusedoof,oorosuspectedoof,otheocommissionoofoanyonon-bailableo offenceoisoarrestedoorodetainedowithoutowarrantobyoanoofficeroinochargeoofoao policeostationooroappearsooroisobroughtobeforeoaoCourtootherothanotheoHigho CourtooroCourtoofoSession,oheomayobeoreleasedoonobail,obuto–o

(i)osuchopersonoshallonotobeosooreleasedoifothereoappearoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatoheohasobeenoguiltyoofoanooffenceopunishableowithodeathooro imprisonmentoforolife;o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o

(iii)o o TheoTerrorismoandoDisruptiveoActivitiesoAct,o1985oo o o o (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'TADA')o o o Sectiono20(8)o o "(8)oNotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCode,onoopersonoaccusedo ofo ano offenceo punishableo undero thiso Acto oro anyo Ruleo madeo thereundero AJAYgKUMAR shall,oifoinocustody,obeoreleasedoonobailooroonohisoownobondounless,––o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 5o o

(a)ltheoPublicoProsecutorohasobeenogivenoanoopportunityotoo opposeotheoapplicableoforosuchorelease,oando

(b)lwhereotheoPublicoProsecutoroopposesotheoapplication,o theocourtoisosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffenceoando thato heo iso noto likelyo too commito anyo offenceo whileo ono bail."o

(iv)o o TheoMaharashtraoControloofoOrganisedoCrimeoAct,o1999oo o o (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'MCOCA')o o o Sectiono21(4)o o "(4)oNotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCode,onoopersonoaccusedo ofoanooffenceopunishableounderothisoAct,oifoinocustody,obeoreleasedoonobailo oroonohisoownobond,ounless––o

(a)ltheoPublicoProsecutorohasobeenogivenoanoopportunityotoo opposeotheoapplicationoofosuchorelease,oando

(b)lwhereotheoPublicoProsecutoroopposesotheoapplication,o theocourtoisosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffenceoando thato heo iso noto likelyo too commito anyo offenceo whileo ono bail."o RelevantoCaseoLawo

8.o o Theoprecedentsogermaneotootheomatter(s)oinoissueoare,othus:o I.o Re:o Nature,oscopeoandoambitoofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActoofo 1985o

(i)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoUnionoofo Indiaovs.oThamisharasio&oOrs,o1995(4)oSCCo190;ohasoheldoasounder:-o o "11.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.oooInootherowords,ounderoSectiono437oofotheoCodeo theo persono iso noto too beo releasedo ono bailo "ifo thereo appearso reasonableo groundso foro believingo thato heo haso beeno guiltyo ofo ano offence"o whileo accordingo tooSectiono 37oofo theo Narcotico Drugso ando Psychotropico SubstancesoAct,o1985,otheoaccusedoshallonotobeoreleasedoonobailounlesso "theocourtoisosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothato heo iso noto guiltyo ofo sucho offence…..".o o Theo requiremento ofo reasonableo 2025.07.21g17:28 groundsoforotheobeliefoinotheoguiltoofotheoaccusedotoorefuseobailoisomoreo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 6o o stringento and,o therefore,o moreo beneficialo too theo accusedo thano theo requirementooforeasonableogroundsoforotheobeliefothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofotheo offenceounderoSectiono37oofotheoN.D.P.S.oAct.oUnderoSectiono437oCodeoofo Criminalo Procedure,o theo burdeno iso ono theo prosecutiono too showo theo existenceooforeasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisoguiltyo whileounderosectiono37oofotheoActotheoburdenoisoonotheoaccusedotooshowotheo existenceooforeasonableogroundsoforotheobeliefothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofotheo offence.oInotheofirstocase,otheopresumptionoofoinnocenceoinofavouroofotheo accusedo iso displacedo onlyo ono theo prosecutiono showingo theo existenceo ofo reasonableo groundso too believeo thato theo accusedo iso guiltyo whileo undero theoN.D.P.S.o Actoito iso theo accusedo whoo haso too showo thato thereo areo reasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatoheoisonotoguilty.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 13.o Accordingly,oprovisionoinoSectiono37otootheoextentoitoisoinconsistento withoSectiono 437oofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo supersedeso theo correspondingoprovisionoinotheoCodeoandoimposesolimitationsoonograntingo ofo bailo ino additiono too theo limitationso undero theoCodeo ofo Criminalo Procedureoasoexpresslyoprovidedoinosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono37.oTheseo limitationso ono grantingo ofo bailo specifiedo ino sub-sectiono (1)o ofoSectiono 37oareo ino additiono too theo limitationso underoSectiono 437oofo theo Codeo ofo CriminaloProcedureoandowereoenactedoonlyoforothisopurpose;oandotheyodoo notohaveotheoeffectoofoexcludingotheoapplicabilityoofotheoprovisootoosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono167oCodeoofoCriminaloProcedureowhichooperatesoino ao differento fieldo relatingo too theo totalo periodo ofo custodyo ofo theo accusedo permissibleoduringoinvestigation."o

(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCustoms,oNewoDelhiovs.oAhmadalievao Nodira,o2004o(3)oSCCo549,oaoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "7.o Theolimitationsoonograntingoofobailocomeoinoonlyowhenotheoquestiono ofograntingobailoarisesoonomerits.oApartofromotheograntoofoopportunityotoo theo publico prosecutor,o theo othero twino conditionso whicho reallyo haveo relevanceosoofarotheopresentoaccused-respondentoisoconcerned,oareo(1)otheo satisfactionoofotheoCourtothatothereoareoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingo thatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffenceoandothatoheoisonotolikelyo toocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail.oTheoconditionsoareocumulativeoando 2025.07.21g17:28 notoalternative.oTheosatisfactionocontemplatedoregardingotheoaccusedobeingo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 7o o noto guiltyo haso too beo basedo foro reasonableo grounds.o Theo expressiono "reasonableogrounds"omeansosomethingomoreothanoprimaofacieogrounds.o Itocontemplatesosubstantialoprobableocausesoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedo isonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffence.oTheoreasonableobeliefocontemplatedoino theoprovisionorequiresoexistenceoofosuchofactsoandocircumstancesoasoareo sufficientoinothemselvesotoojustifyosatisfactionothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyo ofotheoallegedooffence.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx."o

(iii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoUnionoofoIndiaovs.oShrioShivoShankero Kesari,o2007(4)oRCR(Criminal)o186,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldo asounder:-o o "7.oo Theo expressiono usedo inoSectiono 37o (1)(b)o (ii)oiso "reasonableo grounds".o Theo expressiono meanso somethingo moreo thano primao facieo grounds.oItoconnotesosubstantialo probableocausesoforobelievingothatotheo accusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheooffenceochargedoandothisoreasonableobeliefo contemplatedoinoturnopointsotooexistenceoofosuchofactsoandocircumstanceso asoareosufficientoinothemselvesotoojustifyorecordingoofosatisfactionothatotheo accusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheooffenceocharged.o o 8.oo Theo wordo "reasonable"o haso ino lawo theo primao facieo meaningo ofo reasonableoinoregardotoothoseocircumstancesoofowhichotheoactor,ocalledoono tooactoreasonably,oknowsoorooughtotooknow.oItoisodifficultotoogiveoanoexacto definitionoofotheowordo'reasonable'oxxxxxxxx.o o 9.oo Itoisooftenosaido"anoattemptotoogiveoaospecificomeaningotootheowordo 'reasonable'oisotryingotoocountowhatoisonotonumberoandomeasureowhatoisonoto space".o Theo authoro ofo 'Wordso ando Phrases'o (Permanento Edition)o haso quotedofromoinoreoNiceo&oSchreibero123oF.o987,o988otoogiveoaoplausibleo meaningo foro theo saido word.o Heo says,o "theo expressiono 'reasonable'o iso ao relativeo term,o ando theo factso ofo theo particularo controversyo musto beo consideredobeforeotheoquestionoasotoowhatoconstitutesoreasonableocanobeo determined".oItoisonotomeantotoobeoexpedientooroconvenientobutocertainlyo somethingomoreothanothat.o o 10.oo Theowordo'reasonable'osignifieso"inoaccordanceowithoreason".oIno theoultimateoanalysisoitoisoaoquestionoofofact,owhetheroaoparticularoactoiso reasonableo oro noto dependso ono theo circumstanceso ino ao giveno situation.o (See:oMunicipaloCorporationoofoGreateroMumbaioandoanotherov.oKamlao MillsoLtd.o(2003)o6oSCCo315).o o 11.oo TheoCourtowhileoconsideringotheoapplicationoforobailowithoreferenceo 2025.07.21g17:28 tooSectiono37oofotheoActoisonotocalledouponotoorecordoaofindingoofonotoguilty.o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 8o o Ito iso foro theo limitedo purposeo essentiallyo confinedo too theo questiono ofo releasingotheoaccusedoonobailothatotheoCourtoisocalledouponotooseeoifothereo areoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoando recordsoitsosatisfactionoaboutotheoexistenceoofosuchogrounds.oButotheoCourto haso noto too considero theo mattero aso ifo ito iso pronouncingo ao judgmento ofo acquittaloandorecordingoaofindingoofonotoguilty.o o 12.oo Additionally,otheoCourtohasotoorecordoaofindingothatowhileoonobailo theoaccusedoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceoandothereoshouldoalsooexisto someomaterialsotoocomeotoosuchoaoconclusion."o

(iv)o o Ao Threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoSatpaloSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o2018o(13)oSCCo813,ohaso heldoasounder:o o "4.oo UnderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,owhenoaopersonoisoaccusedoofoano offenceopunishableounderoSectiono19ooro24ooro27Aoandoalsooforooffenceso involvingocommercialoquantity,oheoshallonotobeoreleasedoonobailounlessotheo Publico Prosecutoro haso beeno giveno ano opportunityo too opposeo theo applicationoforosuchorelease,oandoinocaseoaoPublicoProsecutoroopposesotheo application,otheocourtomustobeosatisfiedothatothereoareoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatotheopersonoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffenceoandothatoheo isonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail.oMaterialsoonorecordoareo toobeoseenoandotheoantecedentsoofotheoaccusedoisotoobeoexaminedotooentero suchoaosatisfaction.oTheseolimitationsoareoinoadditionotoothoseoprescribedo underotheoCr.P.Cooroanyootherolawoinoforceoonotheograntoofobail.oInoviewoofo theoseriousnessoofotheooffence,otheolawomakersohaveoconsciouslyoputosucho stringento restrictionso ono theo discretiono availableo too theo courto whileo consideringoapplicationofororeleaseoofoaopersonoonobail.o xxxxxxxxxxx"o o(v)o o Ao Threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Narcoticso Controlo Bureauo vs.o Mohito Aggarwal,o 2022o LiveLawo(SC)o613ohasoheldoasounder:o o "13.o Theo expressiono "reasonableo ground"o cameo upo foro discussiono ino"StateoofoKeralaoandoothersoVs.oRajeshoandoothers"oandothisoCourtohaso observedoasobelow:o o "20.o oTheo expressiono "reasonableo grounds"o meanso somethingo moreo thano primao facieo grounds.o Ito contemplateso substantialo Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand probableocausesoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 9o o allegedo offence.o Theo reasonableo beliefo contemplatedo ino theo provisionorequiresoexistenceoofosuchofactsoandocircumstancesoasoareo sufficientoinothemselvesotoojustifyosatisfactionothatotheoaccusedoiso notoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffence.oInotheocaseoonohand,otheoHigho Courtoseemsotoohaveocompletelyooverlookedotheounderlyingoobjecto ofoSectiono 37othato ino additiono too theo limitationso providedo undero theoCrPC,ooroanyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,oregulatingo theograntoofobail,oitsoliberaloapproachoinotheomatteroofobailoundero theoNDPSoActoisoindeedouncalledofor."o[emphasisoadded]o o 14.oo Toosumoup,otheoexpressiono"reasonableogrounds"ousedoinoclauseo

(b)oofoSub-Sectiono(1)oofoSectiono37owouldomeanocredible,oplausibleoando groundsoforotheoCourtotoobelieveothatotheoaccusedopersonoisonotoguiltyoofo theoallegedooffence.oForoarrivingoatoanyosuchoconclusion,osuchofactsoando circumstancesomustoexistoinoaocaseothatocanopersuadeotheoCourtotoobelieveo thatotheoaccusedopersonowouldonotohaveocommittedosuchoanooffence.oDove-tailedowithotheoaforesaidosatisfactionoisoanoadditionaloconsiderationothato theoaccusedopersonoisounlikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail.o o 15.oo Weomayoclarifyothatoatotheostageoofoexaminingoanoapplicationoforo bailoinotheocontextoofotheoSectiono37oofotheoAct,otheoCourtoisonotorequiredotoo recordoaofindingothatotheoaccusedopersonoisonotoguilty.oTheoCourtoisoalsoo notoexpectedotooweighotheoevidenceoforoarrivingoatoaofindingoasotoowhethero theoaccusedohasocommittedoanooffenceounderotheoNDPSoActooronot.oTheo entireoexerciseothatotheoCourtoisoexpectedotooundertakeoatothisostageoisoforo theolimitedopurposeooforeleasingohimoonobail.oThus,otheofocusoisoonotheo availabilityooforeasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisonoto guiltyoofotheooffencesothatoheohasobeenochargedowithoandoheoisounlikelyotoo commitoanooffenceounderotheoActowhileoonobail."o

(vi)o o Ino ao judgmentotitledo asoMohd.o Muslimo@o Hussainovs.o Stateo (NCToofoDelhi)o2023oLiveLawo(SC)o260,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohaso heldoasounder:-o o "18.oo Theoconditionsowhichocourtsohaveotoobeocognizantoofoareothatothereo areoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoiso"notoguiltyoofo suchooffence"oandothatoheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail.o Whatoisomeantobyo"notoguilty"owhenoallotheoevidenceoisonotobeforeotheo court?oItocanoonlyobeoaoprimaofacieodetermination.oThatoplacesotheocourt'so discretionowithinoaoveryonarrowomargin.oGivenotheomandateoofotheogeneralo 2025.07.21g17:28 lawoonobailso(Sectionso436,o437oando439,oCrPC)owhichoclassifyooffenceso o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 10o o basedoonotheirogravity,oandoinstructothatocertainoseriousocrimesohaveotoobeo dealtowithodifferentlyowhileoconsideringobailoapplications,otheoadditionalo conditionothatotheocourtoshouldobeosatisfiedothatotheoaccusedo(whooisoinolawo presumedotoobeoinnocent)oisonotoguilty,ohasotoobeointerpretedoreasonably.o FurtherotheoclassificationoofooffencesounderoSpecialoActso(NDPSoAct,oetc.),o whichoapplyooveroandoaboveotheoordinaryobailoconditionsorequiredotoobeo assessedobyocourts,orequireothatotheocourtorecordsoitsosatisfactionothatotheo accusedomightonotobeoguiltyoofotheooffenceoandothatouponorelease,otheyoareo notolikelyotoocommitoanyooffence.oTheseotwooconditionsohaveotheoeffectoofo overshadowingootheroconditions.oInocasesowhereobailoisosought,otheocourto assesseso theo materialo ono recordo sucho aso theo natureo ofo theo offence,o likelihoodoofotheoaccusedoco-operatingowithotheoinvestigation,onotofleeingo fromojustice:oevenoinoseriousooffencesolikeomurder,okidnapping,orape,oetc.o Onotheootherohand,otheocourtoinotheseocasesounderosuchospecialoActs,ohaveo tooaddressoitselfoprincipallyoonotwoofacts:olikelyoguiltoofotheoaccusedoando theolikelihoodoofothemonotocommittingoanyooffenceouponorelease.oThisocourto hasogenerallyoupheldosuchoconditionsoonotheogroundothatolibertyoofosucho citizensohaveotoo-oinocasesowhenoaccusedoofooffencesoenactedounderospecialo lawso–obeobalancedoagainstotheopublicointerest.o o 19.oo AoplainoandoliteralointerpretationoofotheoconditionsounderoSectiono 37o(i.e.,othatoCourtoshouldobeosatisfiedothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoando wouldo noto commito anyo offence)o wouldo effectivelyo excludeo granto ofo bailo altogether,o resultingo ino punitiveo detentiono ando unsanctionedo preventiveo detentiono aso well.o Therefore,o theo onlyo mannero ino whicho sucho specialo conditionso aso enactedo underoSectiono 37ocano beo consideredo withino constitutionaloparametersoisowhereotheocourtoisoreasonablyosatisfiedoonoao primaofacieolookoatotheomaterialoonorecordo(wheneverotheobailoapplicationo isomade)othatotheoaccusedoisonotoguilty.oAnyootherointerpretation,owouldo resultoinocompleteodenialoofotheobailotooaopersonoaccusedoofooffencesosucho asothoseoenactedounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.o

(vii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoNarcoticsoControloBureauovs.oKashif,o 2024oINSCo1045,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "8.oo ThereohasobeenoconsistentoandopersistentoviewoofothisoCourtothatoino theoNDPSocases,owhereotheooffenceoisopunishableowithominimumosentenceo ofotenoyears,otheoaccusedoshallogenerallyobeonotoreleasedoonobail.oNegationo ofobailoisotheoruleoandoitsograntoisoanoexception.oWhileoconsideringotheo AJAYgKUMAR applicationoforobail,otheocourtohasotoobearoinomindotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 11o o 37oofotheoNDPSoAct,owhichoareomandatoryoinonature.oTheorecordingoofo findingoasomandatedoinoSectiono37oisoaosineoquaononoforograntingobailotoo theoaccusedoinvolvedoinotheooffencesounderotheosaidoAct.oApartofromotheo grantingoopportunityoofohearingotootheoPublicoProsecutor,otheootherotwoo conditionsoi.e.,o(i)otheosatisfactionoofotheocourtothatothereoareoreasonableo groundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffenceo andothato(ii)oheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail,oareotheo cumulativeoandonotoalternativeoconditions.ooo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 39.oo Theoupshotoofotheoaboveodiscussionomayobeosummarizedoasounder:o o (i)oTheoprovisionsoofoNDPSoActoareorequiredotoobeointerpretedokeepingoino mindotheoscheme,oobjectoandopurposeoofotheoAct;oasoalsootheoimpactoonotheo societyo aso ao whole.o Ito haso too beo interpretedo literallyo ando noto liberally,o whichomayoultimatelyofrustrateotheoobject,opurposeoandoPreambleoofotheo Act.o o (ii)o Whileoconsideringotheoapplicationoforobail,otheoCourtomustobearoino mindotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActowhichoareomandatoryoino nature.oRecordingoofofindingsoasomandatedoinoSectiono37oisosineoquaononoiso knowno foro grantingo bailo too theo accusedo involvedo ino theo offencesoundero theoNDPSoAct.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxx"o II.oo Re:oo RealmooofoBailoJurisprudenceounderoTADAo o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoUsmanbhaioDawoodbhaioMemonovs.o StateoofoGujarat,o1988(1)oRCR(Criminal)o540,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto hasoheldoasounder:o o "22.o ThatotakesousotootheoapproachowhichoaoDesignatedoCourtohasotoo adoptowhileograntingobailoinoviewoofotheolimitationsoplacedoonosuchopowero underosectiono20(8).oTheosub-sectionoinotermsoplacesofettersoonotheopowero ofoaoDesignatedoCourtoonograntingoofobailoandotheolimitationsospecifiedo thereinoareoinoadditionotootheolimitationsounderotheoCode.oUnderosectiono 20(8),onoopersonoaccusedoofoanooffenceopunishableounderotheoActooroanyo ruleomadeothereunderoshall,oifoinocustodyobeoreleasedoonobailooroonohisoowno bondo unlesso theo twoo conditionso specifiedo ino Clauseo (a)o ando (b)o areo 2025.07.21g17:28 satisfied.oInoviewoofotheseomoreostringentoconditionsoaoDesignatedoCourto o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 12o o shouldo carefullyo examineo everyo caseo comingo beforeo ito foro findingo outo whetherotheoprovisionsoofotheoActoapplyooronot.oSinceobeforeograntingobailo theoCourtoisocalledouponotoosatisfyoitselfothatothereoareoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatotheoaccusedoisoinnocentoofotheooffenceoandothatoheoisonoto likelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail,otheoallegationsoofofact,otheo policeo reporto alongo witho theo statementso ino theo caseo diaryo ando othero availableomaterialsoshouldobeocloselyoexamined.ooAoprayeroforobailooughto nototoobeorejectedoinoaomechanicalomanner."o III.oo Re:o RealmoofoBailoJurisprudenceounderoMCOCAo o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoRanjitsingoBrahmajeetsingoSharmaovs.o StateoofoMaharashtrao&oAnr.o2005(5)oSCCo294,oaoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "43.o Doesothisostatuteorequireothatobeforeoaopersonoisoreleasedoonobail,o theocourt,oalbeitoprimaofacie,omustocomeotootheoconclusionothatoheoisonoto guiltyo ofo sucho offence?o Iso ito necessaryo foro theo Courto too recordo sucho ao finding?oWouldothereobeoanyomachineryoavailableotootheoCourtotooascertaino thato onceo theo accusedo iso enlargedo ono bail,o heo wouldo noto commito anyo offenceowhatsoever?o o 44.o Suchofindingsoareorequiredotoobeorecordedoonlyoforotheopurposeoofo arrivingoatoanoobjectiveofindingoonotheobasisoofomaterialsoonorecordsoonlyo forograntoofobailoandoforonoootheropurposeo.o

45.o Weo areo furthermoreo ofo theo opiniono thato theo restrictionso ono theo poweroofotheoCourtotoograntobailoshouldonotobeopushedotooofar.oIfotheoCourt,o havingoregardotootheomaterialsobroughtoonorecord,oisosatisfiedothatoinoallo probabilityoheomayonotobeoultimatelyoconvicted,oanoorderograntingobailomayo beopassed.oTheosatisfactionoofotheoCourtoasoregardsohisolikelihoodoofonoto committingoanooffenceowhileoonobailomustobeoconstruedotoomeanoanooffenceo undero theo Acto ando noto anyo offenceo whatsoevero beo ito ao minoro oro majoro offence.o Ifo sucho ano expansiveo meaningo iso given,o eveno likelihoodo ofo commissionoofoanooffenceounderoSectiono279oofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeomayo debarotheoCourtofromoreleasingotheoaccusedoonobail.oAostatute,oitoisotrite,o shouldonotobeointerpretedoinosucho aomanneroasowouldoleadotooabsurdity.o Whatowouldofurtherobeo necessaryo onotheopartoofotheoCourtoisotooseeotheo culpabilityo ofo theo accusedo ando hiso involvemento ino theo commissiono ofo ano organisedocrimeoeitherodirectlyooroindirectly.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o AJAYgKUMAR o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 13o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 51.o TheowordingoofoSectiono21(4),oinoouroopinion,odoesonotoleadotootheo conclusionothatotheoCourtomustoarriveoatoaopositiveofindingothatotheoapplicanto forobailohasonotocommittedoanooffenceounderotheoAct.oIfosuchoaoconstructionoiso placed,otheocourtointendingotoograntobailomustoarriveoatoaofindingothatotheo applicantohasonotocommittedosuchoanooffence.oInosuchoanoevent,oitowillobeo impossibleoforotheoprosecutionotooobtainoaojudgmentoofoconvictionoofotheo applicant.oSuchocannotobeotheointentionoofotheoLegislature.oSectiono21(4)oofo MCOCA,otherefore,omustobeoconstruedoreasonably.oItomustobeosooconstruedo thatotheoCourtoisoableotoomaintainoaodelicateobalanceobetweenoaojudgmentoofo acquittalo ando convictiono ando ano ordero grantingo bailo mucho beforeo commencementoofotrial.oSimilarly,otheoCourtowillobeorequiredotoorecordoao findingoasotootheopossibilityoofohisocommittingoaocrimeoafterograntoofobail.o However,osuchoanooffenceoinofuturoomustobeoanooffenceounderotheoActoandonoto anyootherooffence.oSinceoitoisodifficultotoopredictotheofutureoconductoofoano accused,otheocourtomustonecessarilyoconsiderothisoaspectoofotheomatterohavingo regardotootheoantecedentsoofotheoaccused,ohisopropensitiesoandotheonatureo andomanneroinowhichoheoisoallegedotoohaveocommittedotheooffence.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 53.o Theodutyoofotheocourtoatothisostageoisonototooweighotheoevidenceo meticulouslyobutotooarriveoatoaofindingoonotheobasisoofobroadoprobabilities.o However,owhileodealingowithoaospecialostatuteolikeoMCOCAohavingoregardotoo theo provisionso containedo ino Sub-sectiono (4)o ofoSectiono 21oofo theo Act,o theo Courtomayohaveotooprobeointootheomatterodeeperosooasotooenableoitotooarriveo ato ao findingo thato theo materialso collectedo againsto theo accusedo duringo theo investigationo mayo noto justifyo ao judgmento ofo conviction.o Theo findingso recordedobyotheoCourtowhileograntingoororefusingobailoundoubtedlyowouldobeo tentativeoinonature,owhichomayonotohaveoanyobearingoonotheomeritoofotheocaseo andotheotrialocourtowould,othus,obeofreeotoodecideotheocaseoonotheobasisoofo evidenceo adducedo ato theo trial,o withouto ino anyo mannero beingo prejudicedo thereby."o IV.oo Re:o "Reasonableogroundoforobelieving"ounderoSectiono437oofo Cr.P.C.,o1973o o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 14o o

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCentraloBureauoofoInvestigationovs.oVs.o VijayoSaioReddy,o2013(3)oRCRo(Criminal)o252,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto hasoheldoasounder:-o o "28)oo xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.ooItohasoalsootoobeokeptoinomindothatoforotheopurposeo ofograntingobail,otheoLegislatureohasousedotheowordso"reasonableogroundso forobelieving"oinsteadoofo"theoevidence"owhichomeansotheoCourtodealingo withotheograntoofobailocanoonlyosatisfyoitoasotoowhetherothereoisoaogenuineo caseoagainstotheoaccusedoandothatotheoprosecutionowillobeoableotooproduceo primaofacieoevidenceoinosupportoofotheocharge.oItoisonotoexpected,oatothiso stage,otoohaveotheoevidenceoestablishingotheoguiltoofotheoaccusedobeyondo reasonableodoubt."o V.oo o Realmoofo'Reasonableness'oinolawo o o o

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhiovs.oM/so JaganoNathoAshokoKumaroandoanother,o1987(4)oSCCo497,otheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "6.o xxxxxxxxxxx.oo Ino Stroud'so Judicialo Dictionary,o Fourtho Edition,o pageo 2258o stateso thato ito wouldo beo unreasonableo too expecto ano exacto definitiono ofo theo wordo "reasonable".o Reasono varieso ino itso conclusionso accordingo too theo idiosyncrasyo ofo theo individual,o ando theo timeso ando circumstancesoinowhichoheothinks.oTheoreasoningowhichobuiltoupotheooldo scholasticologicosoundsonowolikeotheojinglingoofoaochild'sotoy.oButomankindo mustobeosatisfiedowithotheoreasonablenessowithinoreach;oandoinocasesonoto coveredobyoauthority,otheoverdictoofoaojuryoorotheodecisionoofoaojudgeosittingo asoaojuryousuallyodeterminesowhatoiso"reasonable"oinoeachoparticularocase.o Theowordo"reasonable"ohasoinolawotheoprimaofacieomeaningooforeasonableo ino regardo too thoseo circumstanceso ofo whicho theo actor,o calledo ono too acto reasonably,o knowso oro oughto too know.o Seeo theo observations,o ino Reo ao Solicitoro[o1945]oK.Bo.o368oato371oofotheoreporto.o

(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoGujaratoWateroSupplyoandoSewerageo Boardovs.oUniqueoErectorso(Gujarat)o(P)oLtd.,oandoanother,o1987(1)oSCCo 532,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 15o o o "11.o xxxxxxxxxxx.oo oItoisodifficultotoogiveoanoexactodefinitionoofotheowordo 'reasonable'.o Reasono varieso ino itso conclusionso accordingo too theo idiosyncrasyo ofo theo individualo ando theo timeso ando theo circumstanceso ino whichoheothinks.oTheowordo'reasonable'ohasoinolawoprimaofacieomeaningoofo reasonableoinoregardotoothoseocircumstancesoofowhichotheoactor,ocalledo uponotooactoreasonably,oknowsoorooughtotooknow."oo

(iii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCollectoroandoothersovs.oP.oMangammao ando others,o 2003(4)o SCCo 488,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto haso heldo aso under:-o o "7.o xxxxxxxxxxx.oo Itowouldobeohardotoogiveoanoexactodefinitionoofotheo wordo "reasonable".o Reasono varieso ino itso conclusionso accordingo too theo idiosyncrasyoofotheoindividualoandotheotimesoandocircumstancesoinowhichoheo thinks.oTheoreasoningowhichobuiltoupotheooldoscholasticologicostandsonowo likeotheojinglingoofoaochild'sotoy.oButomankindomustobeosatisfiedowithotheo reasonablenessowithinoreach;oandoinocasesonotocoveredobyoauthority,otheo decisiono ofo theo judgeo usuallyo determineso whato iso "reasonable"o ino eacho particularocase;obutofrequentlyoreasonablenesso"belongotootheoknowledgeo ofo theo law,o ando thereforeo too beo decidedo byo theo Courts".o Ito waso illuminatinglyostatedobyoaolearnedoauthorothatoanoattemptotoogiveoaospecifico meaningotootheowordo"reasonable"oisotryingotoocountowhatoisonotonumbero andomeasureowhatoisonotospace.oItomeansoprimaofacieoinolaworeasonableoino regardo too thoseo circumstanceso ofo whicho theo actor,o calledo upono too acto reasonably,oknowsoorooughtotooknow."o VI.oo Re:oUToRESoMAGISoVALEAToQUAMoPEREATo(i.e.oaothingomayo ratherohaveoeffectothanobeodestroyed)ooo o

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCommissioneroofoIncome-tax,oDelhiovs.o S.o Tejao Singh,o 1958o SCCo Onlineo SCo 30,o ao Threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "9.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.ooAoconstructionowhicholeadsotoosuchoaoresulto must,oifothatoisopossible,obeoavoided,oonotheoprincipleoexpressedoinotheo maxim,o"utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereat".oVideoCurtisov.oStovin,o(1889)o 22oQBDo513oandoinoparticularotheofollowingoobservationsoofoFry,oL.oJ.,oato pageo519o:o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 16o o o "Theoonlyoalternativeoconstructionoofferedotoousowouldoleadotoothiso result,othatotheoplainointentionoofotheolegislatureohasoentirelyofailedo byoreasonoofoaoslightoinexactitudeoinotheolanguageoofotheosection.oIfo weowereotooadoptothisoconstruction,oweoshouldobeoconstruingotheo Actoinoorderotoodefeatoitsoobjectoratherothanowithoaoviewotoocarryoitso objectointooeffect."o o o(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoManagementoofoAdvanceoInsuranceoCo.o Ltd.o Vs.o Shrio Gurudasmalo ando otherso 1970(1)o SCCo 633,o ao Fiveo Judgeo BenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "21.o o Itoisonoodoubtotrueothatotheowordsoareosusceptibleoofotheo otheromeaningoalsoobutosoolongoasotheowordsoareocapableoofobearingotheo meaningoweohaveogivenoitoisonotonecessaryotoodiscoveroanotheromeaningo underowhichotheowholeoschemeowouldobecomeovoid.oProvisionsoofolawomusto beoreadoasofaroasoisopossibleowithoaoviewotootheirovalidityoandonototoorendero themoinvalid.oInoourojudgmentotheoexpressiono'belongingoto'oonlyoconveyso theomeaningothatoitoisoaopoliceoforceoconstitutedoandofunctioningoinooneo areaowhichomayobeoauthorisedotoofunctionoinoanotheroarea.oTheochangeo fromo'for'otoo'in'omakesonoodifferenceobecauseobothoexpressionsofitoinowitho theomeaningoofotheophraseo'belongingoto'oinotheoEntry.oWeoseeonooforceoino thisoargumentoalso.oo

(iii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoTinsukhiaoElectricoSupplyoCo.oLtd.oVs.o Stateo ofo Assam,o 1989(3)o SCCo 709,o ao Fiveo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "49.o TheoCourtsostronglyoleanoagainstoanyoconstructionowhichotendsotoo reduceo ao Statuteo too ao futility.o Theo provisiono ofo ao Statuteo musto beo soo construedoasotoomakeoitoeffectiveoandooperative,oonotheoprincipleo"utoreso majiso valeato quamo periat".o Ito is,o noo doubt,o trueo thato ifo ao Statuteo iso absolutelyo vagueo ando itso languageo whollyo intractableo ando absolutelyo meaningless,otheoStatuteocouldobeodeclaredovoidoforovagueness.oThisoisonoto inojudicial-reviewobyotestingotheolawoforoarbitrarinessoorounreasonablenesso underoArticleo 14;obuto whato ao Courto ofo construction,o dealingo witho theo languageoofoaoStatute,odoesoinoorderotooascertainofrom,oandoaccordoto,otheo Statuteotheomeaningoandopurposeowhichotheolegislatureointendedoforoit.oIno ManchesteroShipoCanaloCo.ov.oManchesteroRacecourseoCo.,o[1900]o2oCh.o Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand 352oFarwelloJ.osaid:o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 17o o o "UnlessotheowordsowereosooabsolutelyosenselessothatoIocouldodoo nothingoatoallowithothem,oIoshouldobeoboundotoofindosomeomeaningo andonototoodeclareothemovoidoforouncertainty."o(Seeopageo360oando 361)oo o InoFawcettoPropertiesov.oBuckinghamoCountryoCouncil,o[1960]o3oAlloERo 503,oLordoDenningoapprovingotheodictumoofoFarwell,oJ.osaid:o o "ButowhenoaoStatuteohasosomeomeaning,oevenothoughoitoisoobscure,o oro severalo meanings,o eveno thougho ito iso littleo too chooseo betweeno them,otheoCourtsohaveotoosayowhatomeaningotheoStatuteohasotoobearo ratherothanorejectoitoasoaonullity."o(Videopageo516)oo o Ito is,o therefore,o theo Court'so dutyo too makeo whato ito cano ofo theo Statute,o knowingothatotheoStatutesoareomeantotoobeooperativeoandonotoineptoandothato nothingoshortoofoimpossibilityoshouldoallowoaoCourtotoodeclareoaoStatuteo unworkable.oInoWhitneyov.oInlandoRevenueoCommissioners,o[1926]oACo37o LordoDunedinosaid:oo o "Ao Statuteo iso designedo too beo workable,o ando theo interpretationo thereofobyoaoCourtoshouldobeotoosecureothatoobject,ounlessocrucialo omissionooroclearodirectionomakesothatoendounattainable."o(video pageo52).o

(iv)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Commissionero ofo Incomeo Taxo vs.o HindustanoBulkoCarriers,o2003(3)oSCCo57,oaoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "14.o Ao constructiono whicho reduceso theo statuteo too ao futilityo haso too beo avoided.oAostatuteooroanyoenactingoprovisionothereinomustobeosooconstruedo asotoomakeoitoeffectiveoandooperativeoonotheoprincipleoexpressedoinomaximo utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereatoi.e.oaoliberaloconstructionoshouldobeoputo uponowrittenoinstruments,osooasotooupholdothem,oifopossible,oandocarryointoo effecto theo intentiono ofo theo parties.o (Seeo Broom'so Legalo Maximso (10tho Edition),opageo361,oCraiesoonoStatuteso(7thoEdition)opageo95oandoMaxwello onoStatuteso(11thoEdition)opageo221.)o Analysiso(reolaw)o

9.o o TheoNDPSoAct,oaopivotalopieceoofolegislationowithinoourolegalo corpus,owasometiculouslyoenactedotoodischargeoIndia'sosolemnointernationalo commitments.o Foremosto amongo theseo iso theo obligationo arisingo fromo theoAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 18o o Singleo Conventiono ono Narcotico Drugs,o 1961.o Thiso statuteo standso aso ao specializedoenactment,ometiculouslyodelineatingotheocomprehensiveocontrolo ando rigorouso regulationo pertainingo too allo facetso ofo operationso involvingo narcotico drugso ando psychotropico substances.o Giveno thato thiso seminalo legislationowasopromulgatedowithotheosingularoandoparamountoobjectiveoofo stemmingo theo burgeoningo tideo ofo drugo abuseo ando illicito trafficking,o itso provisionsoareotoobeointerpretedoandoconstruedowithoscrupulousoadherenceotoo theo purposiveo approacho ofo statutoryo construction.o Thiso venerableo jurisprudentialoprincipleomandatesothatocourts,oinodecipheringotheotrueoimporto andoscopeoofotheoenactment,omustotranscendoaomereoliteraloorogrammaticalo readingo ofo theo text.o Theo interpretativeo endeavoro must,o therefore,o beo ao dynamico ando teleologicalo one,o ensuringo thato theo NDPSo Acto remainso ano efficaciousoinstrumentoinocombatingotheopervasiveomenaceoofodrugoabuse,o ratherothanobeingorenderedosterileobyoaorigidooromyopicotextualoanalysis.oo

10.o o Sectiono37ogovernsotheoarenaoofobailoinvolvingocertainooffenceso undero theo NDPSo Act.o Ito prescribeso rigorouso stipulationso thato musto beo meticulouslyoadheredotoobyocourtsowhenodeliberatingouponoplea(s)oforobail,oono merits,oino caseso fallingoundero Sectionso 19,o 24,o 27A,o ando critically,oino allo offencesoinvolvingoaocommercialoquantityoofoanyocontraband.oTheoseminalo inclusionoofotheseoexactingoprovisions,oeffectuatedothroughoaodeliberateoando specifico amendmento ino 1989,o unequivocallyo underscoreso ando reflectso theo legislativeointentotooimposeoaosignificantlyoelevatedothresholdoforotheograntoofo bail.oCrucially,obyovirtueoofoitobeingoinotheonatureoofononoobstanteoclause– havingocommencedowitho'Notwithstanding',otheostricturesoenunciatedoundero Sectiono37ooperateoasoanoadditiveolayerotootheogeneraloconditionsogoverningo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 19o o bail,o aso meticulouslyo enumeratedo undero theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973/BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023oandoanyootheroextantolaw.o ThisoexactingointerpretationoofoSectiono37oandoitsooverridingoeffectohaveobeeno consistentlyo reaffirmedo ando indeliblyo etchedo througho ao successiono ofo authoritativeo pronouncements,o includingo Satpalo Singho (supra)o ando Ahmadalievao Nodirao (supra)o whereino theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto haso steadfastlyounderscoredotheoindispensableocharacteroofotheopre-conditionsoaso containedoinoSectiono37.oConsequently,otheootherwiseoextensiveodiscretionaryo latitudeoordinarilyovestedoinoaocourtowhenoadjudicatingoaopleaoforobailois,oino theocontextoofocasesofallingowithinotheopurviewoofoSectiono37,oineluctablyo circumscribedo ando significantlyo curtailedo byo theo specifico ando stringento conditionsothereinoenumerated.ooo

11.o o Ano analyticalo perusalo ofo Sectiono 37o reflectso that,o ino ordero too enableoaoCourtotoograntobailotooanoaccused,ofirstly,otheoPublicoProsecutorohaso toobeogivenoanoopportunityotooopposeosuchopleaoand,osecondly,owhereotheo PublicoProsecutorosooopposes,otheoCourtohasoto:o o (i)o Satisfyo itselfo thato thereo areo reasonableo groundso foro believingo thato theo applicant-accusedo iso noto guiltyo ofo sucho offence;oandoo o (ii)oooooSucho applicant-accusedo iso noto likelyo too commito anyo offenceowhileoonobail.oo o o ItoisoaxiomaticothatotheoconditionsostipulatedoinoSectiono37oareo fundamentallyo cumulativeo ando noto alternativeo aso heldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Ahmadalievao Nodirao (supra)o ando Thamisharasio(supra).oThisostatutoryodesignounequivocallyotranslatesointooao requirementoforotheoconcurrentoandoholisticosatisfactionoofoallotheodelineatedoAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 20o o prerequisites:onamely,otheoexistenceooforeasonableogroundsoforoconcludingo theoaccused-applicant'soostensibleoinnocence,ocoupledowithotheoabsenceoofo anyocredibleoapprehensionothatotheoaccusedowillorecidivateouponorelease.oo

12.o o Theofirstoconditionothatoisorequiredotoobeometowithoisothatotheo Courtoisosatisfiedo'thatothereoareoreasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatoheoiso notoguiltyoofosuchooffence'.oo o o Theo linchpino ofo thiso aspecto ofo theo mattero iso "reasonableo grounds".o Ito goeso withouto sayingo thatothereo canobeo noo determinativeonayo exhaustiveodefinitionoofotheoexpressiono"reasonable"―forothisoconceptobyo itselfoisoincapableoofoaorigidodefinitionoasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inoJaganoNatho(supra),oGujaratoWateroSupplyo(supra)oandoP.oMangammao (supra).ooItsoveryoessenceoisoimbuedowithoanoineluctableocontextualofluidityo––o renderingoaouniversallyoprescriptiveodefinitionoanoexerciseoinojurisprudentialo futility.ooTheonuancedocontoursoofo'reasonableness'oareoinextricablyowoveno intootheosingularofactualomatrixoofoeachoindividualocase,otheoprevailingosocial-legalo milieu,o ando indeed,o theo conscientiouso ando objectivelyo informedo discernmentoofotheoCourt.ooConsequently,otheoformidableotaskoofoascertainingo whato preciselyo constituteso 'reasonable'o ino anyo giveno instanceo devolveso unequivocallyouponotheosagacityoandojudiciousoapplicationoofomindoofotheo Court.ooBorrowing,owithoimpunity,ofromowisdomoofoBenjaminoN.oCardozo,o– –o"AfteroalloanoarbitratoroasoaoJudge,ohasotooexerciseoaodiscretionoinformedo byo tradition,o methodizedo byo analogy,o disciplinedo byo system,o ando subordinatedotoo"theoprimordialonecessityoofoorderoinosocialolife."o

12.1.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoShrioShivoShankero 2025.07.21g17:28 Kesario (supra)o ando Kashifo (supra)o haso enunciatedo thato theo expressiono o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 21o o "reasonableogroundsoofonon-commission"omeansosomethingomoreothanoprimao facieogrounds.ooItocontemplatesosubstantialoprobableocausesoforobelievingothato theoaccusedoisonotoguiltyoofotheoallegedooffence.ooThereoisonoogainsayingothato whileoexaminingotheoissueoofo"reasonableogrounds"otheoCourtoisonotorequiredo tooreturnoaoclearofindingoofoguiltooroinnocenceoofotheobail-applicant.ooTooputoito anotheroway;otheoCourtowhileodealingowithosuchoaobailoplea,oisonotorequiredotoo exhaustivelyoweighoorosiftothroughotheoevidenceoforoarrivingoatoaoconclusiveo finding(s)oasotoowhetherotheobail-applicantoisoguiltyoofosuchooffenceooronot.oo Theoexpressiono"reasonableogroundsoforobelieving",oasostipulatedoinoSectiono 437oofoCr.P.C.,owasointerpretedotoosuchoeffectobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ino Vijayo Saio Reddyo (supra).o Theo Courto iso onlyo requiredo too recordo itso satisfaction,oforotheolimitedopurpose,oforoadjudicationoofosuchobailoplea.ooThiso interpretationo iso furthero underscoredo byo theo facto thato theo questiono ofo bailo fundamentallyo implicateso theo personalo libertyo ofo ano individual―ao righto meticulouslyoprotectedowithinotheocontoursoofoArticleo21.oConsequently,otheo termo"reasonable"o―owhich,oisoflexibleoinomeaningoandodependsoentirelyo uponotheocontextoinowhichoitohasobeenoused,ooughtotoobeounderstoodowithino thisospecificolegaloandolegislativeocontext.ooAorigidointerpretationothatoignoreso thisocontextocouldonotoonlyoactoasoanoabsoluteobarotoograntingobailobutoalsoo contradicto theo fundamentalo principleo ofo 'presumptiono ofo innocenceo untilo proveno guilty'―o foro pre-convictiono incarcerationo wouldo regrettablyo transmuteointooaopunitiveomeasure,otheomomentoanoinequitable,oarbitrary,ooro unjustifiableo impedimento iso erectedo againsto theo otherwiseo legitimateo considerationo ofo bail.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofoMohito Aggarwalo(supra)ohasoheldothatosuchosatisfactionooughtotoobeoonotheobasisoofo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 22o o substantialoprobableocausesoforobelievingothatotheobail-applicantoisonotoguiltyo ofotheoallegedooffences.ooo

12.2.o o Thereo iso anothero aspecto nayo pertinento aspecto ofo theo matter,o whichocravesoattentionoofothisoCourt.ooWhileotheolexicologyoofoSectiono37o placeso ao significanto burdeno ono theo accused-applicanto too demonstrateo 'reasonableogroundsoofonon-commission'o––otheoparamountoimportanceoofo bailoasoaomatteroofopersonalolibertyo––oalsooimposesoanoequalodutyoonotheo Courtotootakeoaoprimaofacieooverviewoofoallotheoevidence/materialoavailableo onorecord.ooThisoensuresothatotheostrictoconditionsoareoappliedowithojudicialo scrutinyoandoanounwaveringocommitmentotoofairoprocedure,opreventingoano arbitraryo restrictiono upono personalo liberty.o o Theo generalo axiomo againsto meticulouslyosiftingoevidentiaryomaterialoatotheobailostageomustobeoappliedo withomeasuredoflexibilityoforoaobailopetitionounderoSectiono37.ooThisodeviationo isocompelledobyostatutoryomandateoofoarrivingoatoanoaffirmativeofindingoofo 'reasonableo groundso ofo non-commission'.o o Thiso onerouso prerequisiteo necessitateso ao preliminary,o yeto substantive,o evaluationo ofo theo materialo availableoonorecord,otranscendingoaosuperficialoglance.oo

12.3.o o Indubitably,oforotheolimitedopurposeoofoadjudicatingosuchopleao forobail,otheoCourtomayoevenolookointootheoprobableodefenceoofotheobail-applicant,o ifo theo facts/circumstanceso ofo ao giveno caseo soo require.o Thiso approacho iso fundamentallyo necessitatedo byo theo practicalo realityo thato theo prosecution'socase,oasopresentedoinotheocaseodiary,owouldoinherentlyobereftoofo anyoexculpatoryomaterialoorotheodefenceoversionoofoevents.oConsequently,otoo ensureo thato ano accusedo iso affordedo ao reasonable,o effectiveo ando propero opportunityo too seeko &o argueo foro hiso liberty,o theo Courto oughto too takeo ao o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 23o o preliminaryoglanceoatoplausibleodefence.oThisoisocrucialotooavoidomechanicalo applicationoofolaw.o o o Theostatutoryoembargooimposedouponotheograntoofobailobyovirtueo ofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoActoisotextuallyoandosubstantivelyoanalogousotoo thatoengraftedoinoSectiono20(8)oTADA.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheo caseo ofo Usmanbhaio Dawoodbhaio Memono (supra),o whileo interpretingo theo stringento conditionso containedo ino Sectiono 20(8)o TADAo (whicho areo pario materiaowithoconditionsocontainedoforobailoenumeratedoinoSectiono37oNDPSo Act)oenunciatedothatoinoviewoofotheostrictofetters,oaoCourtowhileodealingowithoao bailopleaooughtotoocloselyoexamineotheoallegations,opoliceoreport,ocaseodiaryo andootheroavailableomaterial.oInoviewoofotheostrikinglyosimilarophraseologyo andolegislativeointentounderlyingotheseoenactments,otheointerpretativeodictaoofo theoApexoCourtoquaoTADAowouldoapplyomutatisomutandisotooSectiono37o NDPSoAct.oo o o However,oasoaomatteroofoabundantocaution,oandoindeed,oevenoato theosakeooforeiteration,oitoisoimperativeotooemphasizeothatotheofindingsooro observationsomadeobyotheoCourtoduringotheoadjudicationoofobailoapplicationo must,ounderonoocircumstances,oundulyoinfluenceooroprejudiceotheosubsequento trialoproceedings.oTheotrialocourtoisomandatedotooadjudicateotheocaseobeforeoito solelyoonotheobasisoofoevidenceoformallyoledoduringotheotrial,ounburdenedobyo anyopreliminaryoassessmentoofoprobabilitiesooroprimaofacieoviewsoformedoato bailostage.o o o Itogoesowithoutosayingothatoitoisoneitheropragmaticonorofeasibleotoo layoanyouniversaloexhaustiveoyardstickooroinexorableosetoofoguidelinesoforo suchoadjudicationoasoeveryocaseohasoitsoownouniqueofactualoconspectus,owhicho o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 24o o hasotoobeotakenointooaccountobyotheoCourtowhichoisoinoseisinoofotheomatter.ooIto waso saidobyo Lordo Denning,o whicho observationo meto witho approvalobyo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourt,othat:o o "….Eachocaseodependsoonoitsoownofacts,oandoaocloseosimilarityobetweeno oneocaseoandoanotheroisonotoenough,obecauseoevenoaosingleosignificanto detailomayoalterotheoentireoaspect.oInodecidingosuchocase,ooneoshouldoavoido theo temptationo too decideo caseso (Aso saido byo Cardozo)o byo matchingo theo colouroofooneocaseoagainstotheocolouroofoanother.oToodecide,otherefore,oono whichosideoofotheolineoaocaseofalls,oitsobroadoresemblanceotooanotherocaseoiso notoatoallodecisive."o

13.o o Theosecondoproscriptiveocondition,odelineatedoinoSectiono37,oforo theograntoofobail,omandatesoanoaffirmativeofindingothatotheoapplicantoiso'noto likelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhilstoonobail'.oo o o Theo termo 'likely'o byo itso inherento semantico ambiguity,o consistentlyoeludesoanyosingular,opreciseoorouniversallyoapplicableodefinition,o therebyomandatingoitsointerpretationostrictlyoinoaccordanceowithotheospecifico statutoryocontextoinowhichoitoisodeployed.oInotheoparticularocontextoofoSectiono 37owhereotheoCourtomustobeosatisfiedothatotheoaccusedoiso'notolikelyotoocommito ano offenceo whileo ono bail',o thiso termo demandso ao nuancedo ando carefulo interpretation.o Ito iso imperativeo thato 'likely'o beo construedo aso denotingo ao 'reasonableo probability'o oro ao 'palpableo probability',o rathero thano ao mereo 'nascentopossibility'ooroao'speculativeoprobability'.oThisodistinctionoisocrucialo becauseoassessingotheo'likelihoodoofocommittingoanooffence'onecessitatesoao predictiveojudgmentoconcerningofutureoconduct―anoinherentlyocomplexoando oftenoindeterminateotaskouponowhichonooconclusiveoadjudicationocanobeomadeo withoabsoluteocertainty.oAnoexpansiveointerpretationoofo'likely'oinothisocontexto wouldoeffectivelyoamountotooerectingoanoinsurmountableolegaloimpedimentotoo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 25o o theograntoofobail.oItowouldoinvariablyoresultoinoimposingoanooppressiveoburdeno onotheobailoapplicantotooproveoaonegativeofactoaboutofutureoevents.oErgo,otoo ensureothatotheostringentoconditionsoofoSectiono37odoonotoleadotooanoeffectiveo denialo ofo bail,o theo termo 'likely'o musto beo interpretedo aso requiringo ao demonstrableo&osubstantialoprobabilityoofore-offending,oratherothanoaoremoteo oro theoreticalo one.o Theo adjudicatingo Courto iso obliged,o too arriveo ato ao consideredo determinationo regardingo theo accused-applicant'so propensityo foro recidivism,owhichooughtotoobeopremisedouponosomeodiscernible,otangibleoando cogentomaterialoonorecord.oTooadoptoaocontraryostance,oandoequatingo'likely'o witho thato ofo ao 'mereo conceivableo probability',o wouldo risko transformingo ao conditionalostrictureointooanounjustifiedoandoabsoluteopreclusionoofobailoando wouldorenderotheooperativeoefficacyoofotheostatuteopatentlyounworkableoasohaso beeno heldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto inoMohd.o Muslimo @o Hussaino (supra).o Anyo statutoryo provisiono oughto too beo interpretedo ino ao wayo whicho makesoitoworkable.ooItoisoaofoundationaloandoimmutableoprincipleoofostatutoryo constructiono thato theo Courto musto resolutelyo leano againsto anyo interpretiveo paradigmo whicho would,o byo itso operation,o rendero ao legislativeo enactmento otiose,ounworkable,oororeduceoitotooaostateoofoutterofutility.oTheoprovisionsoofoao statuteo beo judiciouslyo construedo ino ao mannero thato ensureso theiro efficacy,o operability,oandopracticaloutility,oinofaithfuloadherenceotootheovenerableolegalo maxim,o"utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereat"o(i.e.othatotheothingomayorathero haveo effecto thano beo destroyed).o Anyo interpretativeo approacho thato conspicuouslyo divergeso fromo theo discernibleolegislativeo intent,o aso evincedo throughotheoplainotext,omustobeoscrupulouslyoeschewedoasohasobeenoobservedo byotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoS.oTejaoSingho(supra),oShrioGurudasmalo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 26o o (supra),oTinsukhiaoElectricoSupplyo(supra)oandoHindustanoBulkoCarrierso caseo (supra).o o Vide;o Craieso ono Statuteo Law,o p.o 90o ando Maxwello ono Theo InterpretationoofoStatutes,oTenthoEdition,opageso236-237;o o "Ao statuteo iso designed",o observedo Lordo Dunedino ino Whitneyo v.o Commissionerso ofo Inlando Revenueo (2),o "too beo workable,o ando theo interpretationothereofobyoaocourtoshouldobeotoosecureothatoobject,ounlesso crucialoomissionooroclearodirectionomakesothatoendounattainable".o o o Ergo,o theo objectiveo ofo Sectiono 37o iso noto too constructo ano impregnableo ando absoluteo interdictiono againsto theo granto ofo bail.o Consequently,oitobecomesoineluctableothatotheseoprovisionsobeojudiciouslyo construedoinoaomannerothatoharmonizesoseamlesslyowithotheolegislativeointent,o therebyoprecludingoanyointerpretationothatowouldotransmuteotheseoconditionso intooanoinsurmountableobarrierotooliberty.o

13.1.o o Thisodeterminationooughtotoobeopredicatedouponoaoscrupulouso considerationo ofo pertinento factors,o including,o buto noto limitedo to,o theo antecedentsoofotheoaccused-applicant,otheospecificoroleoascribedotoohimoinotheo allegedooffence,oandoanyootheromaterialo circumstancesothatobearouponohiso futureoconduct,oetc.oo o o Tooascertainotheolikelihoodoofoanoaccused-applicantoexhibitingoao propensityo foro recidivismo whilsto enlargedo ono bail,o theo adjudicatingo Courto mayojudiciouslyoconsiderotheoantecedentsoofotheoaccused-applicant.oWhileo suchoantecedentso undeniablyo constituteo ao pertinento ando germaneofactoroino informingotheoCourt'soholisticodetermination,otheyoareobyonoomeansotoobeo regardedo aso exclusivelyo determinativeo oro conclusivelyo dispositiveo ofo theo ultimateofinding.oo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 27o o o o Theoadditionalopre-requisitesoforograntoofobailoasocontainedoino Sectiono 21(4)o ofo MCOCAo areo ino pario materialo witho thoseo containedo ino Sectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.oAccordingly,otheojudicialoexpositionsorenderedo ino theo contexto ofo Sectiono21(4)o MCOCAo acquireo persuasiveorelevanceo ino construingotheotwinoconditionsostipulatedounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Ranjitsingo Brahmajeetsingo Sharmao(supra),owhileodealingowithoaobailopleaounderoMCOCAohasoheldothato itoisodifficultotoopredictotheofutureoconductoofoanoaccused.oo o o Thus,oanotheromeasure,obyowhichosuchoconditionounderoSectiono 37o cano beo met,o iso mandatingo theo applicant-accusedo too regularlyo causeo appearance,o ato stipulatedo time/interval,o beforeo theo concernedo Illaqao (jurisdictional)oMagistrate/TrialoCourtoorotheoconcernedoPoliceoStationoando submitoanoaffidavitotootheoeffectothatoheohasonotobeenoinvolvedoinoanyoothero offenceo aftero beingo releasedo ono bail.o Stillo further,o theo requiremento ofo theo provisionocanobeometowith,oinoessence,oifoleaveoisoreservedoinofavouroofotheo State/Prosecutionotooseekofororecalloofotheobailoorderouponotheirogatheringo informationo abouto sucho successfulo bail-applicanto beingo involvedo ino ano offence,oafterohisobeingoreleasedoonobail.oo o o Nooexhaustiveosetoofoguideline(s)otoogovern,othisoaspectoofotheo satisfactionoofoaoCourtocanopossiblyobeolaidodown,ohowever,oalluringothiso aspecto mayo be.o o Ito iso neithero fathomableo noro desirableo too layo downo anyo straightjacketoformulationoinothisoregard.ooToodoosoowouldobeotoocrystallizeo intooaorigidodefinition,oaojudicialodiscretion,owhichoevenotheoLegislatureohas,o forobestoofoalloreasons,oleftoundetermined.ooAnyoattemptoinothisoregardowouldo be,otoosayotheoleast,oaoquixoticoendeavour.ooCircumstantialoflexibility,ooneo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 28o o additional,o oro differento fact,o mayo makeo ao seao ofo differenceo betweeno conclusionso ino twoo cases.o Sucho exerciseo wouldo thus,o indubitable,o beo dependentouponotheofactualomatrixoofotheoparticularocaseowhichotheoCourtoiso inoseisinoof,osinceoeveryocaseohasoitsoownopeculiarofactualoconspectus.oSucho judicialodiscretion,obutoof-course,ooughtotoobeoexercisedoinoaccordanceowitho theoprinciplesoofojustice,oequityoandogoodoconscience.ooAnoageooldoadageo reads,othus:o o "Theojudgeoevenowhenoheoisofree,oisostillonotowhollyofree.ooHeoisonototoo innovateoatopleasure.ooHeoisonotoaoknight-errantoroamingoatowilloinopursuito ofohisoownoidealoofobeautyooroofogoodness.ooHeoisotoodrawohisoinspirationo fromoconsecratedoprinciples.ooHeoisonototooyieldotoospasmodicosentiment,otoo vagueo ando unregulatedo benevolence.o o Heo iso too exerciseo ao discretiono informedobyotradition,omethodizedobyoanalogy,odisciplinedobyosystem,oando subordinatedotootheoprimordialonecessityoofoorderoinotheosocialolife.oWideo enoughoinoalloconscienceoisotheofieldoofodiscretionothatoremains"oo o o

14.o o Asoaosequiturotooabove-saidorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o

(I)o (i)o Aobailopleaoonomerits;oinorespectoofoanoFIRounderoNDPSoActoofo 1985oinvolvingooffence(s)ounderoSectiono19ooroSectiono24ooroSectiono 27-Ao thereofo ando foro offence(s)o involvingo commercialo quantity;o iso essentiallyorequiredotoomeetowithotheorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSo Act.ooo o (ii)oo Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoActodoonotoapplyotooaobailo plea(s)oonomedicaloground(s),ointerimobailoonoaccountoofoanyoexigencyo includingotheoreasonoofodemiseoofoaocloseofamilyorelativeoetc.o o o (iii)o Theorigour(s)oofoSectiono37o ofoNDPSoActopaleointooobliviono whenobailoisosoughtoforoonoaccountoofolongoincarcerationoinoviewoofo Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoi.e.owhereotheobail-applicantohaso sufferedolongounder-trialocustody,otheotrialoisoprocrastinatingoandofollyo 2025.07.21g17:28 thereofoisonotoattributableotoosuchobail-applicant.ooo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 29o o II.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareoino additionotootheoconditions/parametersocontainedoinoCr.P.C./BNSSooro anyootheroapplicableoextantolaw.oo III.o TheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)oofoNDPSoActoareo cumulativeoinonatureoandonotoalternativeoi.e.obothotheoconditionsoareo requiredotoobeosatisfiedoforoaobail-pleaotoobeosuccessful.ooo IV.o ForoconsiderationobyobailoCourtoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono 37(1)(b)(i)o ofo NDPSo Acto i.e.o "thereo areo reasonableo groundso foro believingothatoheoisonotoguiltyoofosuchooffence":o o (i)o TheobailoCourtooughtotoosiftothroughoallorelevantomaterial,o includingo case-dairy,o exclusivelyo foro theo limitedo purposeo ofo adjudicatingosuchobailoplea.o o (ii)o Suchoconsideration,oconcerningotheoassessmentoofoguiltooro innocence,o shouldo noto mirroro theo sameo degreeo ofo scrutinyo requiredoforoanoacquittaloofotheoaccusedoatotheofinaloadjudicationo &oculminationoofotrial.oo o (iii)o Plea(s)oofodefenceobyoapplicant-accused,oifoany,oincludingo material/documentsoinosupportothereof,omayobeolookedointoobyo theobail-Courtowhileoadjudicatingosuchobailoplea.ooo V.o ForoconsiderationoofotheoconditionostipulatedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii)oi.e.o 'heoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceowhileoonobail':o o (i)o Theowordo'likely'ooughtotoobeointerpretedoasorequiringoao demonstrableoandosubstantialoprobabilityoofore-offendingobyotheo bail-applicant,oratherothanoaomereotheoreticaloone,oasonooCourto canopredictofutureoconductoofotheobail-applicant.oo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 30o o o (ii)o Theoentireofactualomatrixoofoaogivenocaseoincludingotheo antecedentsoofotheobail-applicant,oroleoascribedotoohim,oandotheo natureoofooffenceoareorequiredotoobeodelvedointo.ooHowever,otheo involvemento ofo bail-applicanto ino anothero NDPS/othero offenceo cannotoipsoofactooresultoinotheoconclusionoofohisopropensityoforo committingooffenceoinotheofuture.o o (iii)o Theobail-Courtomay,oatotheotimeoofograntingobail,oimposeo uponotheoapplicant-accusedoaoconditionothatoheowouldosubmit,oato suchoregularotimeoperiod/intervaloasomayostipulatedobyotheoCourto grantingobail,oanoaffidavitobeforeoconcernedoSpecialoJudgeoofo NDPSo Court/Illaqao (Jurisdictional)o Judicialo Magistrate/concernedoPoliceoStation,otootheoeffectothatoheohaso noto beeno involvedo ino commissiono ofo anyo offenceo afterobeingo releasedoonobail.ooInotheofactsoofoaogivenocase,oimpositionoofosucho conditionomayobeoconsideredotoobeosufficientoforosatisfactionoofo conditionoenumeratedoinoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii).ooo o VI.oo Thereoisonoogainsayingothatotheonature,omodeoandoextentoofoexerciseoofo powero byo ao Court;o whileo satisfyingo itselfo regardingo theo conditionso stipulatedoinoSectiono37oofoNDPSoAct;oshallodependouponotheojudicialo discretionoexercisedobyosuchoCourtoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoao givenocase.oNooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaidodownoasotoo whato wouldo constituteo parameterso foro satisfactiono ofo requiremento undero Sectiono 37o (ibid)o aso everyo caseo haso itso owno uniqueo facts/circumstances.ooMakingosuchoanoattemptoisonothingobutoaoutopiano endeavour.ooErgo,othisoissueoisobestoleftotootheojudicialowisdomoando discretionoofotheoCourtodealingowithosuchomatter.ooo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheocaseoinohand)o o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 31o o

15.o o Theo FIRo ino questiono pertainso too recoveryo ofo 255o gramso ofo Heroino ando Rs.4,70,000/-o statedo too beo drugo money.o Theo quantityo ofo contrabando iso ao commercialo quantity.o Further,o ono accounto ofo recoveryo ofo Rs.4,70,000/-oasodrugomoney,otheopetitionoinohandoalsooattractsotheorigour(s)o ofoSectiono37oofoNDPSoAct.ooo o o Theopetitionerowasoarrestedoono21.04.2025oinotheopresentoFIRo andoisoinocontinuousocustodyosinceothen.ooTheopetitionerohasobeenoarraignedoaso anoaccusedointootheoFIRoinoquestionoonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatemento madeobyoco-accusedonamelyoSahil.ooTheopetitionerowasoadmittedlyoinojailo whenotheorecoveryofromoco-accusedo(Sahil)owasomadeoandonoophoneohasobeeno recoveredofromotheopetitioner.oThereoisonoootheromaterialoavailableoagainsto theopetitioner,oatothisostage,oinoformoofoanyorecoveryomadeofromotheopetitionero himselfooroCDRso(CalloDetailoRecords)obetweenotheopetitioneroandotheoco-accusedooroanyobankotransactionobetweenothem.ooHence,otheoonlyomaterialo availableoagainstotheopetitioneroisoinotheoformoofodisclosureostatementoofoco-accusedofromowhomotheocontrabandoandodrugomoneyoareostatedotoohaveobeeno recovered.ooThisoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoAnshuloSardanaovs.oStateoofo Punjabo:o2025:PHHC:004198;orelyingouponotheojudgmentsopassedobyotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoTofanoSinghovs.oStateoofoTamiloNadu,oAIRo2020o Supremeo Courto 5592,o Smt.o Najmunisha,o Abdulo Hamido Chandmiyao @o LadoooBapuovs.oStateoofoGujrat,oNarcoticsoControloBureau',o2024oINSCo 290,oStateoofo(NCB)oBengaluruovs.oPallulabidoAhmadoArimuttao&oAnr.,o 2022(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o762oandoVijayoSinghovs.oTheoStateoofoHaryana,o bearingoSpecialoLeaveotooAppealo(Crl.)oNo.(s)o1266/2023oohasoheldoasounder:o o "6.3.o Itoisowelloestablishedoprincipleoofolawothatoaoconfessionomadeobyoco-Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand accusedounderoSectiono67oofotheoNDPSoActoisoinherentlyoaoveryoweakopieceo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 32o o ofoevidence.ooSuchostatement(s),obyothemselves,ocannotoformotheosoleobasiso forotheoconvictionoofoanoindividualoandomustobeoscrutinizedowithoutmosto cautiono ino conjunctiono witho othero substantiveo evidence.o o Moreover,o noo recoveryohasobeenoeffectedofromotheopossessionoofotheopetitioner,owhoohaso beeno subsequentlyo implicatedo aso ano accusedo solelyo ono theo basiso ofo disclosureostatementoofotheoco-accused.ooHowever,oasoregularobailopertainso toolifeoandolibertyoofoindividual,oCourtsoareoobligatedotoostrikeoaobalanceo betweeno safeguardingo personalo libertyo ando ensuringo theo effectiveo administrationoofojusticeoasoalsooinvestigation.ooTheofinaloevidentiaryovalueo andoadmissibilityoofotheodisclosureostatementomadeobyoaoco-accusedofallo withinotheodomainoofotheotrialoCourtoandoareotoobeoadjudicatedoduringotheo courseo ofo theo trialo ino accordanceo witho establishedo principleso ofo law.oo However,owhileoadjudicatingoaopleaofororegularobail,othisoCourtocannoto remainoobliviousotootheocircumstancesounderowhichotheopetitionerohasobeeno arraignedo oro implicated,o includingo theo natureo ofo theo allegations,o theo evidenceolinkingotheopetitionerotootheooffenceoasowelloasotheospecificoroleo attributedotootheopetitioneroinotheocommissionoofotheoallegedooffence.ooAo primeofacieoexaminationoofotheseofactorsoisoessentialotooensureothatotheo processoofolawoisonotomused,oabusedooromisdirected."oo o o o o Inoviewoofotheoabove,oinotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,o theorequirementoofoSectiono37(1)(b)(i)ostandsometowith.o

16.o o Asoperocustodyocertificateodatedo09.07.2025,otheopetitioneroisoino custodyo foro abouto lasto 02o monthso ando 17o dayso ino theo FIRo ino question.oo Indubitably,otheopetitioneroisostatedotoobeoinvolvedoino04ootheroNDPSoFIR(s)o andooneoFIRounderotheoPrisonsoAct.ooHowever,otheofactsoremainothatotheo petitionerohasobeenolanguishingoinogaoloforotheolasto2/3oyearsoalbeitobeingo incarceratedo ino anothero FIR(s).o o Thus,o ino theo consideredo opiniono ofo thiso Court,otheorequirementoofoSectiono37(1)(b)(ii)ocanobeometowithobyomandatingo theo petitionero too submito ano affidavito beforeo theo concernedo Specialo Judge,o NDPSoCourtoonotheofirstoworkingodayoofoeveryomonthostatingothatoheohasonoto committedoanyooffenceoafterobeingoenlargedoonobailoinotheopresentoFIR.ooo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 33o o o o Sufficeotoosay,ofurtherodetentionoofotheopetitioneroasoanoundertrialo isonotowarrantedoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase.ooo

17.o o Inoviewoofoabove,otheopresentopetitionoisoallowed.oPetitioneroiso orderedotoobeoreleasedoonoregularobailoonohisofurnishingobail/suretyobondsotoo theo satisfactiono ofo theo Ld.o concernedo Specialo Court,o NDPSo Act/Dutyo Magistrate.oHowever,oinoadditionotooconditionsothatomayobeoimposedobyotheo concernedoSpecialoCourt,oNDPSoAct/DutyoMagistrate,otheopetitioneroshallo remainoboundobyotheofollowingoconditions:-o o (i)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyogranted.oo o (ii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonototamperowithoanyoevidence,ooralo o orodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo o (iii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto absento himselfo ono anyo dateo o beforeotheotrial.oo o (iv)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto commito anyo offenceo whileo o onobail.oo o (v)oo Theopetitioneroshallodepositohisopassport,oifoany,oowitho o theotrialoCourt.oo o (vi)oo Theo petitionero shallo giveo hiso cellphoneo numbero too o theo Investigatingo Officer/SHOo ofo concernedo Policeo o Stationo ando shallo noto changeo hiso cell-phoneo numbero o withouto prioro permissiono ofo theo trialo Court/Illaqao o Magistrate.o o (vii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto ino anyo mannero tryo too delayo o theotrial.oo

(viii)o Theopetitioneroshallosubmit,oonotheofirstoworkingodayoofo everyomonth,oanoaffidavit,obeforeotheoconcernedoSpecialo JudgeoofoNDPSoCourt,otootheoeffectothatoheohasonotobeeno involvedo ino commissiono ofo anyo offenceo aftero beingo releasedoonobail.ooInocaseotheopetitioneroisofoundotoobeoAJAYgKUMAR integritygofgthisgdocument involvedoinoanyooffenceoafterohisobeingoenlargedoonobailo o o CRM-M-33729-2025o o o o o o 34o o ino theo presento FIR,o ono theo basiso ofo hiso affidavito oro otherwise,otheoStateoisomandatedotoomove,oforthwith,oforo cancellationoofohisobailowhichoplea,obutoofocourse,oshallo beoratiocinatedouponomeritsothereof.o

18.o o Inocaseoofobreachoofoanyoofotheoaforesaidoconditionsoandothoseo whicho mayo beo imposedo byo concernedo Specialo Court,o NDPSo Act/Dutyo Magistrateo aso directedo hereinaboveo oro upono showingo anyo othero sufficiento cause,o theo Stateo shallo beo ato libertyo too moveo cancellationo ofo bailo ofo theo petitioner.oo

19.oo o Orderedoaccordingly.oo

20.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

21.oo o Sinceotheomainocaseohasobeenodecided,opendingomiscellaneouso application,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedooff.o oo oo o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o ooooooooooooooooo o o ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo o o oooJUDGEo o Julyo21,o2025o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yeso o o o