2026:JHHC:19956 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.192 of 2026 ---- Manju Devi @ Manju Kumari, W/o Anil Kumar Mandal, aged about 29 years, R/o Village Kustonawadih, P.S. Dumari, P.O. Suriya, District Giridih …. …. Appellant(s) -Versus- 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Victim …. …. Respondent(s) ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ---- For the Appellant : Mr. Mayank Mridul, Adv. For the State : Mr. V.S. Sahay, A.P.P For the Respondent No.2/Victim : Mr. Vijay Kr. Roy, Adv. ---- 06/Dated: 07th July, 2026 1. The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/victim. 3. It is well settled that although Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act bars the grant of anticipatory bail, such bar would not apply in case where no prima facie offence under the Act is made out. 4. The present appeal has been filed against the order dated 12.01.2026 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST (PoA) Act, Giridih in A.B.P No.2233 of 2025 in connection with Dumari P.S. Case No.53 of 2025, for the offences under Sections 115(2), 76, 303(2), 351, 352, 3(5) of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case is presently pending in the Court of learned Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Giridih. 5. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that it is merely a neighbourhood dispute between female members. They have been residing in the same locality and they have no concept of untouchability. The SC/ST (PoA) Act has brought to protect the weaker sections of the society. The very fact that they have been residing in the same area clearly suggests that there is no mens rea so far as inferiority is concerned. On the above basis, prayer for anticipatory bail has been made. 2026:JHHC:19956 2. Criminal Appeal (S.J) No.192 of 2026 6. Learned counsel for the State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2 have opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail by stating that she has been abused being a member of protected community. 7. Considering the fact that both the parties are neighbours and there is a dispute between the female members, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the appellants. Accordingly, the appellants, named above, are directed to surrender in the trial court within four weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order, and in the event of their arrest or surrender, they shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail, on their furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each, to the satisfaction of learned Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Giridih, in connection with Dumari P.S. Case No.53 of 2025, on the conditions as laid down under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023. Further, the appellant(s) will submit self-attested photocopy of his /her/their Aadhaar Card(s) and also submit his/her/their mobile number(s) before the learned trial court which he/she/they will always keep active and will not change it without prior permission of the court, till conclusion of the case. 8. In the result, the present criminal appeal stands allowed and accordingly, disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Dated: 07th July, 2026 Raja/- Uploaded on 9.7.2026