2025:KER:30933 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2025/19TH CHAITHRA, 1947 BAIL APPL. NO. 4959 OF 2025 CRIME NO.605/2025 OF CHATHANNOOR POLICE STATION, KOLLAM PETITIONER/2ND ACCUSED: ANOOP AGED 34 YEARS, S/O CHANDRAN, DHANYA HOUSE, CHERIYIL, EDAVATTOM, CHIRAKKARA, KOLLAM, PIN – 691 578. BY ADV C.Y.VINOD KUMAR RESPONDENT/STATE: STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 031. BY ADV NOUSHAD K A, SR PP THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.04.2025, ALONG WITH Bail Appl..4972/2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 2 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 19TH CHAITHRA, 1947 BAIL APPL. NO. 4972 OF 2025 CRIME NO.605/2025 OF CHATHANNOOR POLICE STATION, KOLLAM PETITIONER/ACCUSED 1 & 3: 1 ROOPESH AGED 33 YEARS, S/O DEVADAS, RAJESH BHAVAN, CHERIYIL, EDAVATTOM, CHIRAKKARA, KOLLAM, PIN – 691 578. 2 SHAJI AGED 55 YEARS, S/O KOCHUNARAYANAN, SIVA MANDIRAM, CHERIYIL, EDAVATTOM, CHIRAKKARA, KOLLAM, PIN – 691 578. BY ADV C.Y.VINOD KUMAR RESPONDENT/STATE: STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 031. BY ADV HRITHWIK C S, SR PP THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.04.2025, ALONG WITH Bail Appl..4959/2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 3 P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J -------------------------------- B.A.Nos.4959 & 4972 of 2025 ------------------------------- Dated this the 9th day of April, 2025 C O M M O N O R D E R These Bail Applications filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita are connected, and therefore I am disposing these cases by a common order. 2. Petitioners in these bail applications are the accused in Crime No. 605 of 2025 of Chathannoor Police Station, Kollam. The above case is registered against the petitioners alleging offences punishable under Sections 126 (2), 115 (2), 118 (1), 110 and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (for short’BNS’). 3. The prosecution case is that on 30.03.2025 there occurred a wordy quarrel between the defacto complainant and the accused during the temple festival 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 4 procession and due to the said enimity, at about 10:00 p.m. on the same day, the accused restrained the defacto complainant and manhandled the defacto complainant and caused injuries to him. It is further alleged that the 1st accused waved a knife towards the neck of the defacto complainant, he blocked the same with his hand and same caused injury on his left hand and the accused beat him with bare hands and the 2nd accused stabbed him with a key on his chest and thus the accused committed the offenses. 4. Heard. 5. It is true that the allegation against the petitioners is serious. But, the petitioners are in custody from 30.03.2025. Indefinite incarceration of the petitioners is not necessary. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, I think the petitioners can be released on bail after imposing stringent conditions. 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 5 6. Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram. P v Directorate of Enforcement [2019 (16) SCALE 870], after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that the accused has the opportunity of securing fair trial. 7. Moreover, in Jalaluddin Khan v. Union of India [2024 KHC 6431], the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “21. Before we part with the Judgment, we must mention here that the Special Court and the High Court did not consider the material in the charge sheet objectively. Perhaps the focus was more on the activities of PFI, and therefore, the appellant's case could not be properly appreciated. When a case is made out for a grant of bail, the Courts should not 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 6 have any hesitation in granting bail. The allegations of the prosecution may be very serious. But, the duty of the Courts is to consider the case for grant of bail in accordance with the law. "Bail is the rule and jail is an exception" is a settled law. Even in a case like the present case where there are stringent conditions for the grant of bail in the relevant statutes, the same rule holds good with only modification that the bail can be granted if the conditions in the statute are satisfied. The rule also means that once a case is made out for the grant of bail, the Court cannot decline to grant bail. If the Courts start denying bail in deserving cases, it will be a violation of the rights guaranteed under Art.21 of our Constitution.” (underline supplied) 8. In Manish Sisodia v. Directorate of Enforcement [2024 KHC 6426], also the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that: “53. The Court further observed that, over a period of time, the trial courts and the High Courts have forgotten a very well - settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 7 as a punishment. From our experience, we can say that it appears that the trial courts and the High Courts attempt to play safe in matters of grant of bail. The principle that bail is a rule and refusal is an exception is, at times, followed in breach. On account of non - grant of bail even in straight forward open and shut cases, this Court is flooded with huge number of bail petitions thereby adding to the huge pendency. It is high time that the trial courts and the High Courts should recognize the principle that "bail is rule and jail is exception".” Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed with the following directions: 1. Petitioners shall be released on bail on executing a bond for Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two solvent sureties each 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 8 for the like sum to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional Court. 2. The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioners shall co-operate with the investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer. 3. Petitioners shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court. 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 9 4. Petitioners shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are suspected. 5. The observations and findings in this order is only for the purpose of deciding this bail application. The principle laid down by this Court in Anzar Azeez v. State of Kerala [2025 SCC OnLine KER 1260] is applicable in this case also. 6. If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioners, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is granted by this 2025:KER:30933 B.A Nos.4959 and 4972 of 2025 10 Court. The prosecution and the victim are at liberty to approach the jurisdictional court to cancel the bail, if there is any violation of the above conditions. Sd/- P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE AMR