- (1.) This is an application for bail. The applicant is said to have been arrested on the spot while picking the pocket of the reporter and relieving him of Rs. 240/- at about 11.30 p.m. on 30-11-1989. It is alleged that the reporter was taking his meal in a marriage party. The applicant was taking meal in that party. Somehow, in the crowd, he had picked the pocket. The Magistrate as well as the Sessions Judge rejected the application for bail. Hence this application has been moved.
(2.) It has been contended on behalf of the applicant that the applicant is a boy below sixteen years of age. He ought to have been granted bail by the lower court. Learned State Counsel urged that pickpockets put the victim in a very strange and helpless position after the occurrence and strong view should be taken.
(3.) As seen above, the offence was quite petty in nature. The learned Sessions Judge was exercising the jurisdiction under S.439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the Code). While interpreting the provisions of Ss.437 and 439 of Code, the Supreme Court of India had explained the overriding considerations which should prevail in granting bail. In Gurcharan Singh v. State, AIR 1978 SC 179, it was observed that S.439(1) of the Code confers special powers on the High Court or the Court of Session in respect of bail. The Supreme Court observed :- "Section 439(1), Cr. P.C. of the new Code, on the other hand, confers special powers on the High Court or the Court of Session in respect of bail. Unlike under S.437(1) there is no ban imposed under S.439(1), Cr. P.C. against granting of bail by the High Court or the Court of Session to persons accused of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life. It is, however, legitimate to suppose that the High Court or the Court of Session will be approached by an accused only after he has failed before the Magistrate and after the investigation has progressed throwing light on the evidence and circumstances implicating the accused. Even so, the High Court or the Court of Session will have to exercise its judicial discretion in considering the question of granting bail under S.439(1), Cr. P.C. of the new Code. The overriding considerations in granting bail to which we adverted in earlier and which are common both in the case of S.437(1) and S.439(1), Cr. P.C. of the new Code are the nature and gravity of the circumstances in which the offence is committed, the position and the status of the accused with reference to the victim and the witnesses; the likelihood of the accused fleeing from justice; of repeating the offence; of jeopardising his own life being faced with a grim prospect of possible conviction in the case; of tampering with witnesses; the history of the case as well as of its investigation and other relevant grounds which, in view of so many variable factors, cannot be exhaustively set out." The Supreme Court had also considered the various other provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The provisions of S.167(2) of the Code (as it existed) prior to Cr. P.C. (Amendment) Act (45 of 1978) authorised the detention of an accused in custody not exceeding sixty days on the expiry of which the accused shall be released on bail if he is prepared to furnish the same. Thus proviso in S.167 of the Code is an innovation in the new Code and is intended to speed up investigation by the police so that a person does not have to languish unnecessarily in prison facing trial. The Supreme Court had also considered Sub-Secs. (6) and (7) of S.437 of the Code and had pointed out various stages of the trial during which such powers vested by virtue of the provisions of Sub-Secs. (1) and (7) of S.437 of the Code may be exercised. The contrast between the two stages was also indicated. While interpreting Sub-Sec. (1) of S.437 of the Code, it was observed :- "Section 437, Cr. P.C. deals, inter alia, with two stages during the initial period of the investigation of a non-bailable offence. Even the officer in charge of the police station may, by recording his reasons in writing, release a person accused of or suspected of the commission of any non-bailable offence provided there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has committed a non bailable offence. Quick arrests by the police may be necessary when there are sufficient materials for the accusation or even for suspicion. When such an accused is produced before the court, the court has a discretion to grant bail in all non-bailable cases except those punishable with death or imprisonment for life if there appear to be reasons to believe that he has been guilty of such offences. The Courts oversee the action of the police and exercise judicial discretion in granting bail always bearing in mind that the liberty of an individual is not unnecessarily and unduly abridged and at the same time the cause of justice does not suffer." The Supreme Court had also stated in para 14 of the judgement the implication of change of language in S.439 of the Code from the old Criminal Procedure Code. It was observed : "From the above change of language it is difficult to reach a conclusion that the Sessions Judge or the High Court need not even bear in mind the guidelines which the Magistrate has necessarily to follow in considering bail of an accused. It is not possible to hold that the Sessions Judge or the High Court, certainly enjoying wide powers, will be oblivious of the considerations of the likelihood of the accused being guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life. Since the Sessions Judge or the High Court will be approached by an accused only after refusal of bail by the Magistrate, it is not possible to hold that the mandate of the law of bail under S.437, Cr. P.C. for the Magistrate will be ignored by the High Court or by the Sessions Judge." Thus from the perusal of the aforesaid case law it is clear that a discretion has to be exercised in granting bail in cases not punishable with imprisonment for life or death unless there may be some reasons for not exercising such a discretion in favour of the accused on account of anyone of the considerations mentioned in the order of the Supreme Court. It has been clearly mentioned therein that the circumstances enumerated above cannot be exhaustive. There may be other reasons for not granting bail. However such reasons should be mentioned while refusing bail.;