Arshdeep Singh Gill Alias Arshdeep Singh v. State of Punjab and Another

o 1o o o 142o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHoCHANDIGARH o CRM-M-66967-2025oCRM 66967 2025 o ArshdeepoSinghoGillo@oArshdeepoSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandoanothero ….Respondentso o Dateooforeserve:o o o o Februaryo12,o2026o DateoofoPronouncement/oDecision:oo Februaryo16,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oo o o Februaryo16,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oS.P.S.oAulakh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.o o o o NoneofororespondentoNo.2.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.oo o o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 528o ofo theo Bharatiyao Nagariko Surakshao Sanhita,o 2023o (foro shorto 'BNSS'),o seekingo settingoasideoofotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo09.12.2024o(AnnexureoP-9)opassedo byo theo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Samrala,o ino caseo bearingo No.CHI/169/2018o titledo aso "Stateo vso Daljito Singho etc.),o whereby,o theo petitionerowasodeclaredoasoproclaimedoperson,oinocaseoarisingooutoofoFIRo No.170odatedo02.10.2018,oregisteredounderoSectionso295,o160,o323,o506oando 34o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o 1860o (foro shorto 'IPC'),o ato Policeo Stationo Machhiwara,oDistrictoKhanna.oo

o o o 2o o

2.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso contendedo thato theo impugnedo order,o wherebyo theo petitionero haso beeno declaredo ao proclaimedo person,o iso whollyo illegal,o arbitrary,o andounsustainableoinotheo eyeso ofo law.o Learnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerowasoreleasedoonobailobyotheo TrialoCourt.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatoduringopendencyoofotheo trial,o theo partieso mutuallyo agreedo too resolveo theo disputeo ino questiono ando arrivedoatoaocompromiseoandoquaowhich,oaopetitionowasoalsoomovedobeforeo thisoCourt,obutoultimately,otheosameowasodismissedoasowithdrawn,ovideoordero datedo20.02.2024o(AnnexureoP-3).oLearnedocounselohasoiteratedothatoaonoticeo wasoissuedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourt,obutosaidonoticeowasoreceivedobyotheo fatheroofotheopetitioner,odueotoowhich,oheocouldonotoappearobeforeotheotrialo Courtoono12.04.2024.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheotrialoCourt,ovideo ordero datedo 12.04.2024o (Annexureo P-4)o cancelledo ando forfeitedo theo bail/o suretyo bondso ofo theo petitionero ando alsoo issuedo warrantso ofo arrest,o foro

14.05.2024.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero iteratedo thato warrantso ofo arresto issuedo byo theo trialo Courto remainedo unexecutedo ando therefore,o video ordero datedo 07.10.2024o (Annexureo P-5),o proclamationo waso issuedo againsto theo petitioner.o Learnedo counselo haso arguedo thato theo statemento ofo servingo constableodatedo11.11.2024o(AnnexureoP-8)orevealsothatotheopetitionerowaso notofoundoonotheoaddress,obutohisomotherowasopresentotherefore,oheoaffixedo oneocopyoofoproclamationoonotheogateoofohouseoofotheopetitioner,ooneocopyo wasoaffixedoonotheowalloofotheobusostand,oMachhiwaraoSahiboandooneocopyo wasoaffixedoononoticeoboardoofotheoCourt.oo

o o o 3o o

2.1.o o Learnedo counselo haso iteratedo thato basedo ono theo reporto ofo theo servingoofficial,olearnedotrialoCourt,ovideoimpugnedoorderodatedo09.12.2024o (Annexureo P-9),o declaredo theo petitionero aso proclaimedo person,o whicho iso erroneousoandoisonotosustainableogivenonon-complianceoofoproperoprocedureo asoenvisagedounderoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.oLearnedocounselohasofurthero arguedothatotheoservingoconstableohasofailedotoocomplyowithotheoprovisionsoofo Sectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.oasotheoproclamationowasonotopubliclyoreadoinosomeo conspicuousoplace.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheolearnedotrialo courtofailedotoofollowotheoprocedureounderoSectiono105oofotheoCr.oP.C.osinceoito wasowithinoitsoknowledgeothatotheopetitionerohadogoneoabroadoatotheotimeoofo issuanceoofoprocessounderoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.oasowelloasoatotheotimeoofo declaringotheopetitioneroasoproclaimedoperson.oo

2.2.o o Learnedo counselo haso furthero arguedo thato theopetitionero isonoto abscondingoandohadoneverointentionallyosoughtotooevadeotheoprocessoofolawo andotheoCourt.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerowasoundero impressiono thato sinceo compromiseo waso effectedo betweeno theo parties,o therefore,otheoFIRohasobeenoquashed.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothato theopetitioneroisoreadyoandowillingotoojoinoproceedingsobeforeotheotrialoCourto onoeachoandoeveryodate.ooOnotheobasisoofotheseosubmissions,olearnedocounselo hasoprayedothatotheoimpugnedoorderoisoliableotoobeoset-asideobeingoillegaloando unjustifiedoand,ohence,oliableotoobeoset-aside.oo

3.o o Shortoreplyobyowayoofoanoaffidavitodatedo14.01.2026ohasoalreadyo beenofiledobyotheolearnedoStateocounsel.oRaisingosubmissionsoinotandemowitho theosaidoshortoreply,olearnedocounselohasoopposedotheopresentopetition.oWhileo

o o o 4o o refutingotheocaseosetoupobyotheopetitioner,odetailedoargumentsowereoadvancedo onomerits,ocontentionoregardingonon-complianceoofoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.o isomisconceivedoandocontraryotoojudicialorecordoasotheolearnedoCourtobelowo haso passedo theo impugnedo ordero aftero recordingo dueo satisfactiono thato proclamationo hado beeno dulyo effectedo byo theo servingo officialo ando clearo statutoryo periodo ofo 30o dayso waso affordedo too enableo petitionero too causeo appearanceo beforeo theo trialo Court.o Learnedo counselo haso arguedo thato theo petitionero haso deliberatelyo avoidedo theo processo ofolawo ando dido noto causeo appearanceoandotheoconductoofotheopetitionerodisentitlesohimofromoanyorelief.o Moreover,o ito haso beeno statedo thato theo learnedo Courto belowo followedo theo procedureoasolaid-downounderoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.,o1973oinoletteroando spiritoandonoodiscrepancyowhatsoeveroisoforthcomingofromotheorecordsoofotheo case.oAccordingly,odismissaloofotheoinstantopetitionohasobeenoprayedofor.oo

4.o o Io haveo heardo theo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando carefullyoperusedotheorecordoofotheocase.oo

5.o o Theo lawo iso wello settledo thato noo persono cano beo declaredo ao proclaimedooffender/personounlessotheoprocedureoprescribedounderoSectiono 82oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973oisostrictlyoandometiculouslyo adheredoto.oItoisotriteothatotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono82oCr.P.C.oareomandatoryo inonature,oandoanyonon-complianceothereofovitiatesotheoentireoproceedings.o Furthermore,o Sectiono 82(1)o ofo theo Cr.o P.C.o clearlyo provideso thato beforeo issuingoaoproclamationorequiringoaopersonotooappear,otheoCourtomustohaveo reasonotoobelieveothatosuchopersonohasoabscondedooroisoconcealingohimselfosoo thatotheowarrantocannotobeoexecuted.oInotheopresentocase,otheorecordoreflectso

o o o 5o o thatotheopetitionerowasoonobail,obutosinceoheofailedotooappearobeforeotheotrialo Court,ohisobail/osuretyobondsowereoforfeitedotootheoState.oTheopetitionerowaso underoimpressionothatosinceotheomatterostandsocompromised,otherefore,oheo hado goneo abroado ando couldo noto appearo beforeo theo Courto belowo ono theo particularodate(s).oAoperusaloofostatementoofoservingoofficialoshowsothatotheo proclamationowasonotoreadoinosomeoconspicuousoplace,oasoperorequirementso ofoprovisionsounderoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.oo

6.o o ThisoCourtofindsothatotheocourseoadoptedobyotheoCourtobelowoiso inoclearocontraventionoof,oandoantitheticaloto,otheoprovisionsoofoSectiono82oofo theoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973.oTheoCourtobelowohasocommittedoao manifesto illegalityo byo issuingo ando actingo upono theo proclamationo withouto ensuringocomplianceowithotheomandatoryostatutoryorequirements.oTheolearnedo Courtobelow,owhileodeclaringotheopetitioneroasoaoproclaimedoperson,ofailedotoo recordo theo requisiteo judicialo satisfactiono regardingo dueo executiono ofo theo proclamationo ando proceededo ino ao mechanicalo ando perfunctoryo manner,o renderingotheoimpugnedoorderolegallyounsustainable.oSuchoanoorderobeingo violativeoofomandatoryoprovisionsoofolaw,ocannotobeosustained.oSectiono82oofo theoCriminaloProcedureoCode,o1973oreadsoasounder:o o"82.oProclamationoforopersonoabsconding.o-o(1)oIfoanyoCourtohasoreasonotoo believeo (whethero aftero takingo evidenceo oro not)o thato anyo persono againsto whomoao warrantohasobeenoissuedobyo itohasoabscondedooroiso concealingo himselfosoothatosuchowarrantocannotobeoexecuted,osuchoCourtomayopublishoao writtenoproclamationorequiringohimotooappearoatoaospecifiedoplaceoandoatoao specifiedotimeonotolessothanothirtyodaysofromotheodateoofopublishingosucho proclamation.o o(2)oTheoproclamationoshallobeopublishedoasofollows:o-o

(i)(a)oitoshallobeopubliclyoreadoinosomeoconspicuousoplaceoofotheotownooro villageoinowhichosuchopersonoordinarilyoresides;o

(b)oitoshallobeoaffixedotoosomeoconspicuousopartoofotheohouseoorohomesteado inowhichosuchopersonoordinarilyoresidesoorotoosomeoconspicuousoplaceoofo suchotownoorovillage;o

o o o 6o o

(c)oaocopyothereofoshallobeoaffixedotoosomeoconspicuousopartoofotheocourt-house;o

(ii)otheoCourtomayoalso,oifoitothinksofit,odirectoaocopyoofotheoproclamationotoo beopublishedoinoaodailyonewspaperocirculatingoinotheoplaceoinowhichosucho personoordinarilyoresides.o o(3)oAostatementoinowritingobyotheoCourtoissuingotheoproclamationotootheo effectothatotheoproclamationowasodulyopublishedoonoaospecifiedoday,oinotheo mannero specifiedo ino clauseo (i)o ofo sub-sectiono (2),o shallo beo conclusiveo evidenceothatotheorequirementsoofothisoSectionohaveobeenocompliedowith,o andothatotheoproclamationowasopublishedoonosuchoday.o o[(4)oWhereoaoproclamationopublishedounderosub-sectiono(1)oisoinorespectoofo aopersonoaccusedoofoanooffenceopunishableounderoSectionso302,o304,o364,o 367,o382,o392,o393,o394,o395,o396,o397,o398,o399,o400,o402,o436,o449,o459,o oro460oofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo(45oofo1860),oandosuchopersonofailsotoo appearoatotheospecifiedoplaceoandotimeorequiredobyotheoproclamation,otheo Courtomay,oafteromakingosuchoinquiryoasoitothinksofit,opronounceohimoao proclaimedooffenderoandomakeoaodeclarationotoothatoeffect.o o(5)oTheoprovisionsoofosub-sectionso(2)oando(3)oshalloapplyotooaodeclarationo madeobyotheoCourtounderosub-sectiono(4)oasotheyoapplyotootheoproclamationo publishedounderosub-sectiono(1).]"o o

7.o o AoCoordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtowhileodealingowithoinvocationo ofotheoprovisionoofoSectiono82oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,oagainstoano accusedoinotheocaseoofo'Sonuov.oStateoofoHaryana,o2021(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o 319',oheldoasounder:o o"9.o Theo essentialo requirementso ofo sectiono 82o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o 1973o foro issuanceo ando publicationo ofo proclamationo againsto ano abscondero ando declaringo himo aso proclaimedo person/offendero mayo beo summarizedo aso under:-o o(i)oPrioroissuanceoofowarrantoofoarrestobyotheoCourtoisosineoquaononoforo issuanceoandopublicationoofotheoproclamationoandotheoCourtohasotoofirsto issueowarrantoofoarrestoagainstotheopersonoconcerned.o(SeeoRohitoKumarov.o StateoofoDelhi:o2008oCrl.oJ.o2561).o o(ii)oThereomustobeoaoreportobeforeotheoCourtothatotheopersonoagainstowhomo warrantowasoissuedohadoabscondedoorohadobeenoconcealingohimselfosoothato theo warranto ofo arresto couldo noto beo executedo againsto him.o However,o theo Courto iso noto boundo too takeo evidenceo ino thiso regardo beforeo issuingo ao Proclamationounderosectiono82(1)oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973.o(SeeoRohitoKumaro v.oStateoofoDelhio:o2008oCrl.oJ.o2561).o o(iii)o o Theo Courto cannoto issueo theo Proclamationo aso ao mattero ofo courseo becauseotheoPoliceoisoaskingoforoit.oTheoCourtomustobeoprimaofacieosatisfiedo thatotheopersonohasoabscondedooroisoconcealingohimselfosoothatotheowarranto ofo arrest,o previouslyo issued,o cannoto beo executed,o despiteo reasonableo diligence.o (Seeo BishundayalMahtono ando otherso v.o Emperoro :oAIRo 1943o Patnao 366o ando Devendero Singho Negio v.o Stateo ofo U.P.o :o 1994o Crlo LJo (AllahabadoHC)o1783).o o(iv)oTheorequisiteodateoandoplaceoforoappearanceomustobeospecifiedoinotheo proclamationorequiringosuchopersonotooappearoonosuchodateoatotheospecifiedo place.oSuchodateomusto notobeolessothano30oclearodaysofromotheodateoofo issuanceo ando publicationo ofo theo proclamation.o (Seeo Gurappao Gugalo ando

o o o 7o o othersov.oStateoofoMysoreo:o1969oCriLJo826oandoShokatoAliov.oStateoofo Harynao:o2020(2)oRCRo(CRIMINAL)o339).o o(v)o Whereo theo periodo betweeno issuanceo ando publicationo ofo theo proclamationoandotheospecifiedodateoofohearingoisolessothanothirtyodays,otheo accusedo cannoto beo declaredo ao proclaimedo person/offendero ando theo proclamationohasotoobeoissuedoandopublishedoagain.o(SeeoDilbaghoSinghov.o Stateo ofo Punjabo (P&H)o :o 2015o (8)o RCRo (CRIMINAL)o 166o andoAshoko Kumarov.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoanothero:o2013o(4)oRCRo(CRIMINAL)o550)o o(vi)oTheoProclamationohasotoobeopublishedoinotheomannerolaidodownoino sectiono82(2)oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973.oForopublicationotheoproclamationohasotoo beofirstopubliclyoreadoinosomeoconspicuousoplaceoofotheotownoorovillageoino whichotheoaccusedoordinarilyoresides;othenotheosameohasotoobeoaffixedotoo someoconspicuousopartoofotheohouseoorohomesteadoinowhichotheoaccusedo ordinarilyoresidesoorotoosomeoconspicuousoplaceoofosuchotownoorovillageo ando thereaftero ao copyo ofo theo proclamationo haso too beo affixedo too someo conspicuouso parto ofo theo Court-house.o Theo threeo sub-clauseso (a)-o (c)o ino sectiono82o(2)(i)oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973oareoconjunctiveoandonotodisjunctive,o whichomeansothatothereowouldobeonoovalidopublicationoofotheoproclamationo unlessoallotheothreeomodesoofopublicationoareoproved.o(SeeoPawanoKumaro Guptaov.oTheoStateoofoW.B.o:o1973oCriLJo1368).oWhereotheoCourtosooorderso ao copyo ofo theo proclamationo haso too beo additionallyo publishedo ino ao dailyo newspaperocirculatingoinotheoplaceoinowhichotheoaccusedoordinarilyoresides.o Advisably,oproclamationohasotoobeoissuedowithofourocopiesosoothatooneoeacho ofotheothreeocopiesoofotheoproclamationomayobeoaffixedotoosomeoconspicuouso partoofotheohouseoorohomesteadoinowhichotheoaccusedoordinarilyoresides,otoo someoconspicuousoplaceoofosuchotownoorovillageoandotoosomeoconspicuouso partoofotheoCourthouseoandoreportoregardingopublicationomayobeomadeoono theo fourtho copyo ofo theo proclamation.oAdditionalo copyo willo beo requiredo whereotheoproclamationoisoalsoorequiredotoobeopublishedoinotheonewspaper.o o(vii)oStatementoofotheoservingoofficerohasotoobeorecordedobyotheoCourtoasotoo theodateoandomodeoofopublicationoofotheoproclamation.o(SeeoBiradoDanov.o State:o1958oCriLJo965).o o(viii)o Theo Courto issuingo theo proclamationo haso too makeo ao statemento ino writingoinoitsoorderothatotheoproclamationowasodulyopublishedoonoaospecifiedo dayoinoaomannerospecifiedoinosectiono82(2)(i)oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973.oSucho statementoinowritingobyotheoCourtoisodeclaredotoobeoconclusiveoevidenceothato theo requirementso ofo Sectiono 82o haveo beeno compliedo witho ando thato theo proclamationowasopublishedoonosuchoday.o(SeeoBiradoDanov.oState:o1958o CriLJo965).o o(xi)oTheoconditionsospecifiedoinosectiono82(2)oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973oforotheo publicationoofoaoProclamationoagainstoanoabsconderoareomandatory.oAnyo non-complianceotherewithocannotobeocuredoasoano'irregularity'oandorenderso theo Proclamationo ando proceedingso subsequento theretoo ao nullity.o (Seeo DevendraoSinghoNegioaliasoDebuov.oStateoofoU.P.oandoanother:o1994oCriLJo 1783oandoPaloSinghov.oTheoState:o1955oCriLJo318)."o o

8.o o Itoisobyonowoaosettledoprincipleoofolawothatopriorotooissuingoao proclamationounderoSectiono82oCr.oP.C.,otheoCourtoisorequiredotoorecordoitso satisfactionothatotheoaccused,oagainstowhomosuchoproclamationoisosought,oiso abscondingooroisoconcealingohimselfowithotheointentionotooevadeoarrest.oThiso

o o o 8o o foundationaloandojurisdictionalorequirementoisoconspicuouslyoabsentoinotheo presentocase.oo

8.1.o o Perusaloofotheozimnioorderodatedo21.07.2023o(AnnexureoP-10)o passedo byo theo Courto belowo revealso thato pursuanto too theo ordero datedo

04.07.2023,opassedobyothisoCourtoinoCRM-26223-2023oinoCRM-M-12254-2023,otheopetitionero(throughohisoSpecialoPoweroofoAttorney)oandoco-accused,o namelyoDaljitoSinghoGillowereodirectedotooappearobeforeotheotrialoCourtoforo recordingostatements.oTheopetitioner,othroughohisoSpecialoPoweroofoAttorney,o hadonotoappeared,obutoco-accusedo–oDaljitoSinghoGillohadoappearedoandohiso statementowasoalsoorecorded,owherein,oheohadostatedothatotheopetitionerohado goneotooabroadoforohisohigherostudies.oAoperusaloofotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo

09.12.2024o revealso thato sinceo theo petitionero hado alreadyo goneo abroad,o therefore,otheolearnedoCourtobelowohasowronglyorecordedosatisfactionotootheo effectothatotheoproclamationowasodulyoeffectedoandostatutoryoperiodoofo30o daysowasoelapsed,oinotermsoofoprovisionsoofoSectiono82oofotheoCr.oP.C.oando thatoheowasowillfullyoabscondingooroconcealingohimself.oFurthermore,otheo issuanceoofowarrantsoandoproclamationowithoutoestablishingoproperoserviceoofo earliero process(s)o showso non-complianceo witho theo dueo processo ofo law,o resultingoinoseriousoprejudiceotootheopetitioner.oo

9.oo o Theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 82o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,ohavingoseriousociviloandocriminaloramificationsoquaotheorightsoofo ano accused,o particularlyo affectingo hiso libertyo ando participationo ino trialo proceedings,o cannoto beo invokedo ino ao casualo oro cavaliero manner.o Theo mandatoryo requiremento ofo recordingo satisfactiono thato theo accusedo haso

o o o 9o o abscondedooroisoconcealingohimselfosoothatotheowarrantoofoarrestocannotobeo executed,o aso embodiedo undero Sectiono 82o Cr.P.C.,o musto beo scrupulouslyo compliedo witho ono theo basiso ofo cogento ando relevanto materialo availableo ono record.oAnyo non-adherenceo too thiso statutoryo mandateo whileo declaringo ano accusedo aso ao proclaimedo offender/persono vitiateso theo proclamationo proceedingsoinotheiroentirety.oo

10.o o oIno theo aforesaido backdrop,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredo opinionothatonoousefulopurposeowouldobeoservedobyopermittingotheocriminalo proceedingsotoocontinueoagainstotheopetitioner,owhichoareofoundedouponoano illegalo ando procedurallyo flawedo proclamation.o Ito is,o therefore,o ao fito ando appropriateocaseoforotheoexerciseoofoinherentopowersounderoSectiono528oofotheo BNSSo/oSectiono482oofotheoCr.P.C.,osooasotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofo lawoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oo

11.oo o Inoviewoofotheoaboveofindings,oandoconsideringotheoentiretyoofo theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo presento case,o theo presento petitiono iso allowed.oConsequently,otheoimpugnedoorderodatedo09.12.2024o(AnnexureoP-allowed 9)o passedo byo theo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Samrala,o ino caseo bearingoNo.CHI/169/2018otitledoaso"StateovsoDaljitoSinghoetc.),owhereby,otheo petitionero wasodeclaredo aso proclaimedo person,o ino caseoarisingo outoofo FIRo No.170odatedo02.10.2018,oregisteredounderoSectionso295,o160,o323,o506oando 34o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o 1860o (foro shorto 'IPC'),o ato Policeo Stationo Machhiwara,o Districto Khanna,o aso wello aso allo consequentialo proceedingso arisingotherefrom,oareoherebyoquashed.oo

o o o 10o o

12.o o Pendingo application(s),o ifo any,o shallo alsoo stando disposedo ofo accordingly.oo o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Februaryo16,2026oo mahaviro o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/No

o o