127 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA CHANDIGARH CRM-M-34798-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision: 08.07.2025 JATINDER SINGH …Petitioner V/S STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER …Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. Satnam Singh Thakur, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Subhash Godara, Addl. AG Punjab. **** HARPREET SINGH BRAR J. (Oral) 1. This petition has been filed under Section 528 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 seeking quashing of impugned order dated 15.04.2025 (Annexure P-11) passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Bholath in case bearing No. NACT-116-2021 titled as “Parkash Kaur Vs. Jatinder Singh” instituted on 20.12.2021, whereby bail order of the petitioner was cancelled and arrest warrants were issued against him. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner was advised bed rest from 02.04.2025 to 10.04.2025 and the said fact was also mentioned in the order dated 04.04.2025, when the application seeking exemption from personal appearance was allowed by learned trial Court. However, when the matter came up for hearing on 15.04.2025, the petitioner again could not put in appearance before the learned trial Court as the counsel for the petitioner has not informed him about the next date of hearing. Therefore, learned trial Court cancelled the bail order of the petitioner and non-bailable warrants were issued against him due to his non-appearance on 15.04.2025. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that non- appearance of the petitioner was not deliberate or intentional and thus, AJAY GOSWAMI 2025.07.08 19:06 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34798-2025 (O&M) -2- 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. 4. It is also submitted that the petitioner undertakes to appear before the Court below on each and every date. 5. 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. 6. 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 willful absence. The explanation offered for non-appearance before the Court is justified and, therefore, the same is accepted. 7. 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. 8. The sole purpose of issuance of non-bailable warrants is to secure presence of the accused before the Court below. The petitioner in the present case has himself come forward and has undertaken to appear before the Court below on each and every date. 9. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the present petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 15.04.2025 (Annexure P-11), AJAY GOSWAMI 2025.07.08 19:06 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34798-2025 (O&M) -3- vide which bail order of the petitioner has been cancelled and non-bailable warrants have been issued against him, is hereby set aside. 10. Petitioner is directed to appear before the Court below within a period of four 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 Court below, along with costs of Rs. 5,000/- to be deposited with Poor Patients Welfare Funds, PGIMER, Chandigarh for wasting precious time of the Court. 11. The receipt of payment of costs imposed must be presented before learned Court below. The learned Court below is directed to grant bail to the petitioner only upon verification of payment of said cost. 12. It is made clear that in case, petitioner fails to appear before the Court below within the stipulated period and to deposit the aforesaid cost, the interim protection granted by this Court shall be deemed to be automatically vacated, without any further reference by this Court. (HARPREET SINGH BRAR) JUDGE 08.07.2025 Ajay Goswami Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No AJAY GOSWAMI 2025.07.08 19:06 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document