Sowing Agriculture Crop No Ground For Interim Bail, Even If Allowed Who Will Look After It? Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court denied the plea for interim bail of four weeks in an attempt to murder case, which was sought by the accused for the purpose of sowing agriculture crop for the the upcoming season.

Justice Anoop Chitkara said, "without commenting upon powers of this Court to grant bail, this Court is not inclined to grant interim bail to the applicant on the ground mentioned in the application, as there may be some other family members to sow the crops. Moreover, if he is granted interim bail to sow crop, in that case, who will look after the crop after that?."

The Court noted that the petitioner is seeking concession of interim bail for a period of four weeks for the purpose of sowing agriculture crops for the next crop session which is sole base of livelihood for the applicant-petitioner.

The State counsel did not dispute the ground of interim bail, but submitted that interim bail may not be granted.

However, the Court opined "no ground is made out to grant interim bail" and dismissed the plea.

Gurmeet Singh was accused under Section 110 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), Section 117(2) (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt), Section 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), Section 351 (Criminal intimidation), Section 109 (Attempt to murder), Section 115(2) (Voluntarily causing hurt), Section 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means).

On April 21, the Court had sought status report pertaining to details on Medico-Legal Certificate of the victim(s), Victim's current medical condition, The time for which the victim(s) remained in the hospital, Weapon(s) used, Weapon and injuries attributed to the petitioner, The evidence based on which the petitioner was arraigned as an accused, The evidence against the petitioner,  The role of the petitioner, Petitioner's criminal antecedents, except the FIRs in which petitioner was absolved, discharged, or acquitted.

In pursuance of direction, the status report was taken on record on May 14 and the case was listed for July 03.

Mr. Gursimran Singh Madaan, Advocate for the applicant-petitioner.

Ms. Navreet Kaur Barnala, Asst. AG, Punjab.

 Title: GURMEET SINGH V/S STATE OF PUNJAB

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