289 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-55345-2025 Date of Decision: 10.09.2026 RAJ KUMAR ... Petitioner(s) Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent(s) CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Mr. Sehajpreet Singh Sandhu, Advocate for the petitioner(s). Mr. Kuljinder Dhindsa, AAG, Punjab. **** JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J. (Oral) The prayer in the present petition under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 is for quashing of the order dated 03.05.2025 (Annexure P-10) passed by the ld. Judge, Special Court, Gurdaspur in FIR No.172 dated 27.07.2022 under Sections 22(c) of NDPS Act, registered at Police Station City Gurdaspur, whereby the petitioner has been declared as proclaimed offender in terms of Section 82(1) of Cr.P.C. in case bearing No. NDPS-253-2023. 2. On 30.09.2025, the following order was passed:- “Prayer in the present petition is for quashing of the order dated 03.05.2025 passed by the Judge, Special Court, Gurdaspur whereby the petitioner has been declared as a proclaimed offender in terms of Section 82(1) of Cr.P.C. in case bearing No.NDPS-253-2023. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that the petitioner could not appear before the trial Court on 26.04.2024 on account having been granted exemption. On the subsequent dates he could not appear before the trial Court as his counsel did not inform him of the same, as a result whereof he changed his counsel but prior thereto his bail had already been cancelled on 30.11.2024 and bail/surety bonds were forfeited to the State followed by the proclamation VISHAL SETHI 2026.09.11 14:15 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-55345-2025 -2- vide order dated 03.05.2025. It is further submitted that non- appearance of the petitioner was neither intentional nor willful. He submits that the petitioner shall appear before the trial Court within a period of two weeks. He also undertakes that the petitioner shall appear before the trial Court on the subsequent dates in the said matter and would never skip further appearance. Notice of motion. On the asking of this Court, Mr. I.P.S. Sabharwal, DAG Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and prays for some time to file the reply. List on 11.12.2025. In the event, the petitioner surrenders before the trial Court within the period of two weeks from today as undertaken, he shall be admitted to interim bail on his furnishing of fresh bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court, subject to payment of Rs.10,000/- to be deposited with the Punjab Chief Minister Relief Fund, Account No.001934001000589, Punjab State Co-op. Bank, IFSC: TPSC0000019 and furnishing of an undertaking as regards appearance on subsequent dates fixed before the trial Court unless exempted by the Court” 3. In deference to the aforementioned order, the petitioner has surrendered before the Trial Court and has been granted the concession of interim bail vide order dated 13.10.2025 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur. A copy of the said order is taken on record and marked as Mark ‘A’. 4. In view of the above, the impugned order dated 03.05.2025 passed by the Judge, Special Court, Gurdaspur is hereby quashed. 5. It is expected that the petitioner shall not absent himself from the Trial without sufficient cause. 6. Disposed of. (JASJIT SINGH BEDI) JUDGE September 10, 2026 vishal Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No Whether reportable:- Yes/No VISHAL SETHI 2026.09.11 14:15 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document