2026:JHHC:21825 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 253 of 2026 ------- Vina Devi, aged about 51 years, wife of Vishwanath Prasad, resident of Village Bind Mohalla, P.O. and P.S. Sadar Chatra, District Chatra, Jharkhand .... Appellant(s). Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Sitaram Choudhary, aged about 57 years, son of Late Bhuneshwar Pansi, resident of Village Naiki Talab, P.O. and P.S. Sadar Chatra, District Chatra, Jharkhand … Respondents. ------- CORAM :HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ------ For the Appellant(s) : Mr. A. K. Chaturvedy, Advocate For the State : Mr. Sanat Kumar Jha, APP For the Informant/Victim: Mr. Vikram Singh, Advocate ------ 05/ 23.07.2026: The present appeal has been filed under Section 14-A (2) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for grant of Anticipatory Bail to the appellant. 2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for the State and the learned counsel for the respondent No.2/victim. 3. 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 18.11.2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-(SC/ST Spl. Judge), Chatra in A.B.P. No.1358 of 2025 in connection with Sadar P. S. Case No.53 of 2022, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 341, 323, 325, 379, 307, 506/34 of the Indian Penal Code 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 Additional Sessions Judge- I, Chatra, as SC/ST Case No.14 of 2022. 5. It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that some of the male members, who have surrendered before the court below have already been bailed out and rest are still in jail. So far as this appellant is concerned, she is a female and entire family members have been roped in. 2026:JHHC:21825 The only allegation against this appellant is that she has assaulted her daughter-in-law but no injury report has been brought on record. 6. Learned A.P.P. and the learned counsel for the victim have opposed the prayer stating that there is a clear cut allegation of assault and the offence, which has been committed is cognizable in nature. 7. Considering the above facts, I am inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the appellant. Accordingly, the appellant, named above, is 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 her arrest or surrender, she shall be enlarged on anticipatory bail, on her furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rs. Ten Thousand) each with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Chatra, in connection with Sadar P. S. Case No.53 of 2022 (SC/ST Case No.14 of 2022), 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.) 23rd July, 2026 Madhav/- Uploaded on:24/07/2026 -2- Cr. Appeal (SJ) No. 253 of 2026