Atul Tripathi v. State of Up. & Anr.

Judgment

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 1516 of 2014. From the Judgment and Order dated 29.08.2012 in CRLA No. 3239/2012 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. With CRL.Appeal no.1517-18 of 2014@SLP (Crl) No. 262- . 263 of 2013. Ashok Panigrahi, R. N. Tripathi, Santosh Kumar, A Ms.Ashmi Mohan and Ms.Tuleka Mukhe~ee (For M/sAnuradha &Associates), Advs .. for the Appellant. R.K. Das, Pramod Swarup, Sr.Advs. Sibo Sankar Misra, Pareena Swarup, Ameet Singh, Ms. Alka Sinha, Anuvrat Sharma and Tuleka Mukherjee (For M/s Ariuradha & B Associates), Advs .. forthe Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KURIAN, J.

1Leave granted.

2At the post conviction stage, whether the appellate C court, while considering the release of the convict on bail, should give an opportunity to the public· prosecutor for showing cause in writing against such release where the conviction is · on an offence punishable with death or imprisonmerit for life or for a term not less than ten years, is the issue falling for D consideration in these appeals.

3All the private respondents have been convicted by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Azamgarh under ·Sections 147, 148, 149 read with Sections 302, 120B of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) (hereinafter referred to as '!PC') and Section 7 of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and they have been awarded sentence of imprisonment for life with fine. Altogether seven accused have been convicted; · however bail is granted only to four. ·

4The main contention of the appellant is that_ the procedure contemplated under Section 389 proviso has not been complied with while releasing them on bail and, hence, the order passed by the High Court is liable to be set aside. For the purpose of ready reference, we shall extract the impugned order dated 29.08.2012 passed by the High Court, G which reads as follows: "Heard Sri Rajeev Mishra, learned counsel for the appellant as also Sri A.N. Mulla, learned AGA for the State. We have also heard Sri Viresh Mishra, learned · Senior Counsel assisted by Sri Rahul Mishra.Advocate appearing on behalf of the informant. This appeal shall be heard. Call for lower court record of Sessions Trials No.435 of 2006, 436 of 2006 and 437 of 2006 from the eourt of Additional Sesiiions Judge, Court No.2,Azamgarh, which must be made available in a m_aximum period of four weeks.

As regards the prayer for bail, the submission is that the present appellant Shyam Narain Pandey along with the other convict Laxmi Narain Pandey were alleged in the FIR as also in the evidence that they were sitting in a vehicle and were remonstrating from there, the shots whereupon were fired by three others. • Regard being had to be submissions, let appellant Shyam Narain Pandey be released on bail, during pendency of appeal, on furnishing a bond of Rs.20,000/ - with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No.2, Azarngarh in connection with the Sessions Trial No.435 of-2006, 436 of 2006 and 437 of 2006. As regard sentence of fine imposed upon the above noted appellant, realization thereof shall remain stayed. Order Date: 29.8.2012 Sdl- Dharnidhar Jha, J. Sd/-Ashok Pal Singh, J."

5Subsequently, in order dated 05.09.2012, it was . G clarified that Laxmi Narayan Pandey is also to be covered by the said order. In the case of Umesh Kumar Pandey and Ramesh Kumar Pandey, following is the order: "This appeal shall be heard along with criminal appeal no. 3239 of 2012 in which we also send for the record of learned trial court. Heard Sri Salish Trivedi, learned Senior Counsel A appearing for the appellants and Sri Rahul Sharma, learned counsel appearing for the informant as also learned AGA for the State. As regards the prayer for bail, the submission is that the case of Laxmi Narain Pandey-appellant No.1 was same and similar to that of co-convict Shyam Narain Pandey.

As regards the remaining two appellants, namely, Umesh Kumar Pandey and Ramesh Kumar Pandey, the submission is that except that they had also alighted with other accused persons from the Bolero C vehicle, there were no further allegation against them.· Regard being had to the submission and evidence, which is discussed in the impugned judgment, we direct the release of the appellants namely, Umesh 0 Kumar Pandey and Ramesh Kumar Pandey on bail, during pendency of appeal, on furnishing a bond of Rs.20,000/- each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Court No.2, Azamgarh in connection with the Sessions Trials No,435 of 2006, 436 of 2006 E and 437 of 2006. As regard sentence of fine imposed upon the above noted appellant, realization thereof shall remain stayed till further orders. Order Date: 05.09.2012"

6Section 389 of the Code of Criminal ~rocedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'Cr.PC') reads as follows: "S.389. Suspension of sentence pending the appeal; release of appellant on bail.-( 1) Pending any G appeal by a eonvicted person, the Appellate Court may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, order that the execution of the sentence or order appealed against be suspended and, also, if he is in confinement, that he be released on bail, or on his own bond. (ProvidedthattheAppellate Court shall, before releasing on bail or on his own bond a convicted person who is convicted of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten years. shall giye opportunity to the Public Prosecutor for showing cause in writing against such release: Provided furlherthat in cases where a convicted person is released on bail it shall be open to the Public Prosecutor to file an application for the cancellation of the bail.] (2)

The power conferred by this section on an Appellate Court may be exercised also by the High Court in the case. of an appeal by a convicted person to a Court subordinate thereto. (3) Where the convicted person satisfies the Court by . which he is convicted that he intends to presetl'lt an appeal, the Court shall;-- (i) where such person, being on bail, is sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or (ii) where the offence ofwhich such person has been convicted is a bailable one, and he is on bail, order that the convicted person be released on bail, unless there are special reasons for refusing oail, for such period as will afford sufficient time to present the appeal and obtain the orders of the Appellate Court under subsection (1 ), and the sentence of imprisonment shall, so long as he is so released on bail, be deemed to be suspended. (4)

When the appellant is ultimately sentenced to imprisonment for a term or to imprisonment for life, the time during which be is so released shall be excluded in computing the term for which he is so sentenced." (Emphasis supplied) ATUL TRI PATH Iv. STATE OF UP. &ANR.

7Since the argument is on the faulty procedure adopted A by the High Court on 24.03.2004, this Court directed the respondents to state on affidavit: " ... as to whether the first proviso to Section 389 Cr.PC. for giving an opportunity to the Public Prosecutor for showing cause in writing against the proposed released of the convicted person on bail was complied with before the impugned bai.1 order was passed by the High Court."

8The State has filed an affidavit on 24.04.2014. ParaBraph 5 of the affidavit reads as follows: 'That in this regard, it is respectfully submitted, that as per information received, no opportunity for showing cause in writing was provided to the State counsel though the State counsel appeared on the said date." (Emphasis supplied) D

9On behalf of the second respondent, an affidavit has · been filed on 12.04.2014 wherein it is stated at paragraphs 2 and 3 as follows: "2 .... In this context it may be stated that respondent no. 2 to 4 for challenging the judgment and order of conviction recorded by the trial court gave notice of the appeal to the State Counsel on 31.08.2012. Tne notice consisted of the memo of appeal and the application for bail. Thereupon appeal alongwith bail application were filed. Giving · of earlier notice to the State Counsel was in compliance F with the requirement of law as provided in Section 389 Cr.P.C. to enable the State to have its say in writing on the prayer for bail. 6. That the appeal (Criminal Appeal No. 3404/2012) G alongwith bail application were listed on 05.09".2014. The counsel representing State as well as of the complainant, petitioner here-in, entered appearance and ·objected to the respondent's prayer for bail. Upon hearing the counsel of respondent no. 2 to 4, State and the complainant, Hon'ble High Court passed the impugned order(s) .... " (Emphasis supplied) .

10Learned counsel for the private respondents 8 contends that the appellants had given copies of the appeal and the bail application to the public prosecutor and since the public prosecutor having been heard on the day when the appeal came up for admission, there is c_ompliance of the first proviso under Section 389 Cr.PC. The public prosecutor having appeared in the matter and opposed the application for bail, the statutory requirement of opportunity to sliow cause has been satisfied.

11The provisos to Section .389 were introduced mainly pursuant to the 154'" Report of the Law Commission of India 0 submitted in 1996. The amendments were introduced by Act 25 of 2005 and they have come into effect from 23.06.2006. · The Law. Commission recommended for addition of two provisos. The recommendation reads as follows: "47. Two provisos to sub-section (1) of section 389 of the Code be added to the effect that the Appellate Court would give notice to the prosecution before releasing a convicted person on bail, if he was convicted of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a terni of not less than ten years and also to enable the prosecution to move an application for cancellation of such bail granted by the Appellate Cou~"

12However, in the Bill, a further modification was suggested to the effect that the public prosecutor be given an opportunity to show cause in writing againstthe release and, thus, the provisos have found place under Section 389(1) Cr.PC.

13Section 389 comes under Chapter XXIX of Cr.PC dealing with appeals. Section 439 Cr.PC coming under Chapter XXXlll Cr.PC provides for special powers to High Court or Court of Sessions regarding bail for an accused. A Section 439(1) also·has a proviso. Section 439 reads as follows: "S.439. Special powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding bail.-(1) A High Court or Court of Session may directthat any person accused of an offence and in custody, be released on bail, and ifthe offence is of the nature specified in sub-section (3) of section 437, may impose any condition which C it considers necessary for the purposes mentioned in that sub-section; that any condition imposed by a ·Magistrate when releasing any person on bail be set aside or modified: Provided that the High Court or the Court of Session shall. before granting bail to a person who is accused of an offence which is triable exclusively by the Court of Session or which. though not so triable, is punishable with imprisonment for life. give notice of the application for bail to the Public Prosecutor unless it is. for reasons to be recorded in writing. of opinion that it is not practicable to give such notice. (2) A High Court or Court of Session may direct that any person who has been released on bail under this Chapter F be arrested and commit him to custody." (Emphasis supplied)

14It may be seen that there is a marked difference between the procedure for consideration of bail under Section G 439, which is pre conviction stage and Section 389 Cr.PC, which is post conviction sb~ge. In case of Section 439, the Code provides that only notice to the public prosecutor unless impractical be given before granting bail to a person who is accused of an offence which is triable exclusively by the Court H A • of Sessions or where the punishment for the offence is imprisonment for life; whereas in the case of post conviction bail under Section 389 Cr.PC, where the conviction in respect of a serious offence having punishment with death or life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term not less than ten B years, it is mandatory that the appellate court gives an opportunity to the public prosecutor for showing cause in writing against such release.

15Service of a copy of the appeal and application for bail on the public prosecutor by the appellant will not satisfy C the requirement of first proviso to Section 389 Cr.PC. The appellate court may even without hearing the public prosecutor, decline to grant bail. However, in case the appellate court is inclined to consider the release of the convict on bail, the public prosecutor shall be granted an opportunity to show cause in D writing as to why the appellant be not released on bail. Such a stringent provision is introdu.ced only to ensure that the court is apprised of all the relevant factors so that the court may col}sider Whether it is an appropriate case for release having regard to the manner in which the crime is committed, gravity E ofthe offence; age, criminal antecedents of the convict, impact on public confidence in the justice delivery system, etc. Despite such an opportunity being granted to the public prosecutor, in case no. cause is shown in writing, the appellate court shall . recor.d that the State has not filed any objection in writing. This procedure is intended to ensure transparency, to ensure that · there is no allegation of collusion and to ensure that the court is properly assisted by the State with true and correct facts with regard to the relevant considerations for grant of bail in respect of serious offences, at the post conviction stage.

16To sum up the legal position, The appellate. court, if inclined to consider the . release, of a convict sentenced to punishment for death or imprisonment for life or for a period of ten years or more, shall first give an opportunity to the public prosecutor to show cause in writing against A such release. On such opportunity· being given, the State is required to file its objections, if any, in writing. In case the public prosecutor does not file the B objections in writing, the appellate court shall, in its order, specify that no objection had been filed despite the opportunity granted by the court. The court shall judiciously consider all the relevant factors whether specified in the objections or not, c like gravity of offence, nature of the crime, age, criminal antecedents of the convict, impact on public confidence in court, etc. before passing an order for release.

17Admittedly, no such opportunity was granted to the D State as contemplated under the first proviso of Section 389 Cr.PC in these appeals. Therefore, the impugned orders to the extent of release of the private respondents on bail are set aside. The High Court shall consider the matters afresh. Needless to say that Shyam Narayan Pandey-respondent no.2 E in Criminal Appeal No. 1516 of 2014 @ S.L.P. (Criminal) No.261 of2013 and Laxmi Narayan Pandey-respondent no.2, Umesh Kumar Pandey-respondent no.3 and Ramesh Kumar Pandey-respondent no.4 in Criminal Appeal Nos. 1517-18 of 2014@S.L.P. (Criminal) Nos. 262-263 of2013 shall surrender F before the trial court within three weeks and, if not, they shall be taken into custody. Thereafter, the High Court shall consider , afresh their applications for bail, after following the procedure as per proviso to Section 389 (1) Cr.PC as explained above, expeditiously.

18The appeals are allowed as above. Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeals allowed.