135 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-18302-2025 Date of decision: 03.04.2025 Prince ....Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. Parivartan Singh, Advocate for Mr. A.S. Prajapati, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Subhash Godara, Addl.A.G., Punjab. HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL) 1. The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. seeking quashing of impugned order dated 14.01.2025 (Annexure P-1) passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur, whereby, the bail order has been cancelled and bail bonds/surety bonds of the petitioner have been cancelled and forfeited to the State followed by issuance of non-bailable warrants in case bearing FIR No.3 dated 25.01.2023 (Annexure P-2) under Sections 452/324/380/148/149 of IPC (Sections 379-B(2)/395/411/323/506 of IPC added later on) registered at Police Station Ghaine Ke Bangar Police District Batala, District Gurdaspur. 2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner was on regular bail and was regularly appearing before the learned trial Court but due to miscommunication between the petitioner and the clerk of his counsel, wrong date was noted down by the petitioner i.e. 24.01.2025 instead of 14.01.2025. On 14.01.2025, petitioner could not appear before the learned trial Court and due to his non-appearance, his bail bonds/surety bonds were cancelled and forfeited to the State and non-bailable Neha 2025.04.03 17:29 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-18302-2025 -2- warrants along with notice to his surety were issued. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the non- appearance of the petitioner was not deliberate and intentional and thus, aggrieved by the said order, he has approached this Court by way of instant petition. It is contended that the impugned order is liable to be set aside on the ground of unintentional non-appearance of the petitioner due to miscommunication and act of noting down the date wrongly. 4. It is also submitted that the petitioner undertakes to appear before the trial Court on each and every date. 5. Notice of motion. 6. Mr. Subhash Godara, Addl.A.G., Punjab who is present in Court, accepts notice for the respondent and submits that the impugned order has been passed on the sole ground of the absence of the petitioner, however, it is not disputed by him that petitioner was already on bail and had been appearing before the trial Court. 7. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record of the case with their able assistance and with the consent of parties, the matter is taken up for final disposal. 8. A perusal of the order dated 14.01.2025 (Annexure P-1) reflects that the trial Court proceeded to pass the extreme order of cancellation of bail for the solitary absence of petitioner. Many a times, the accused can be prevented by sufficient reasons to put an appearance before the Court on a given date and, therefore, it necessarily cannot be construed as a deliberate and wilful absence. The explanation offered for non appearance before the trial Court is justified and, therefore, the same is accepted. Neha 2025.04.03 17:29 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-18302-2025 -3- 9. While the scheme of criminal justice system necessitates curtailment of personal liberty to some extent, it is of the utmost importance that the same is done in line with the procedure established by law to maintain a healthy balance between personal liberty of the individual-accused and interests of the society in promoting law and order. Such procedure must be compatible with Article 21 of the Constitution of India i.e. it must be fair, just and not suffer from the vice of arbitrariness or unreasonableness. 10. The sole purpose of issuance of non-bailable warrants is to secure presence of the accused before the trial Court. The petitioner in the present case has himself come forward and has undertaken to appear before the trial Court on each and every date. 11. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the present petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 14.01.2025 (Annexure P-1), vide which the bail bonds and bail order of the petitioner was cancelled and non-bailable warrants were issued, is hereby set aside. 12. The petitioner is directed to appear before the trial Court within a period of two weeks from today and on his doing so, he shall be admitted to bail on his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court, along with costs of Rs.5,000/- to be deposited with All India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Jalandhar Branch, for wasting precious time of the Court. 13. The receipt of payment of costs imposed must be presented before the learned trial Court. The learned Court below is directed to grant bail to the petitioner only upon verification of the payment of said costs. 14. However, in case, the petitioner fails to surrender before the Neha 2025.04.03 17:29 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-18302-2025 -4- learned trial Court within the stipulated time period, the interim protection granted by this Court, shall be deemed to be vacated. (HARPREET SINGH BRAR) JUDGE 03.04.2025 Neha Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No Neha 2025.04.03 17:29 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document