In a bail application under Section 439 CrPC, the Gauhati High Court released the accused on bail in a child marriage and POCSO case after observing that the investigation progressed satisfactorily and no charge-sheet was filed yet.
Petitioner released on bail on furnishing a bond of Rs.20,000/- with one local surety.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Page No.# 1/3
GAHC010048052023
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : Bail Appln./841/2023
AYUB ALI
S/O- HABIBAR RAHMAN @ HABIBAR PORAMANIK, R/O- VILL.BAGRIGURI GAON, P.O. CHUKRUNGBARI, P.S. SORBHOG, DIST. BARPETA, ASSAM
VERSUS
THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, ASSAM
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. S A B KHABIR
Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM
BEFORE
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA O R D E R
16.03.2023
Heard Mr. S.A.B. Khabir, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. B.B. Gogoi, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Assam for the State.
This application, under Section 439 Cr.PC, is preferred by the petitioner, Ayub Ali, who has been arrested in connection with Sorbhog Police Station Case No.22/2023 registered under Section 9/10/11 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 read with Section 6/17 of POCSO Act, 2012.
Page No.# 2/3
An FIR was lodged by the informant Rashid Sonar on 02.02.2023 alleging that a 17 year old girl was forcefully married to one Ayub Ali, i.e., the petitioner. The girl narrated that she was forcefully married to Ayub Ali who is older than her in lieu of money, which was offered to her parents. The marriage took place in a traditional manner in presence of relatives of both the victim girl and the groom. The FIR was registered as Sarbhog PS Case No.22/2023 under Section 120(B) IPC read with Section 9/10/11 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 read with Section 6/17 of the POCSO Act.
Pursuant to investigation, the petitioner, who is the husband of the victim girl, was arrested on 03.02.2023 and since then he has been in judicial custody.
This Court by order, dated 09.03.2023, directed that Case Diary along with the medical report and 164 statement of the victim be produced before the Court.
Today, when the matter is called up, Mr. Gogoi, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor submits that the Case Diary along with 164 statement is available. However, medical report is not available as on date.
Learned counsel for the parties have been heard. The pleadings have been carefully perused.
Upon perusal of the Case Diary, it is seen that the statement of the petitioner has been recorded besides statement of the petitioner under Section 161 Cr.PC. The petitioner has admitted before the police that he had married the girl, who is admittedly a minor.
Perusal of the Case Diary reveals that investigating authorities have proceeded with the investigation but the charge-sheet has not been filed in the matter. This Court is of the considered opinion that since investigation has
Page No.# 3/3
progressed considerably and the petitioner has also cooperated with the investigation and that no charge-sheet has been filed as yet, further custodial detention of the petitioner does not appear to be necessary for continuance of the investigation.
Accordingly, taking into account the progress of investigation as well as the period of detention undergone by the petitioner, this Court is of the view that the petitioner can be released on bail.
Accordingly, the petitioner is released on bail on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand) only with one local surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, POCSO, Barpeta subject to the condition that the petitioner shall appear before the Court as and when required and he shall not leave the jurisdiction of the competent Court without obtaining prior permission.
The Bail Application is accordingly disposed of.
Case Diary be returned back.
JUDGE
Comparing Assistant
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the petitioner is eligible for release on bail in a POCSO and child marriage case after suspicion of charge-sheet.
2 provisions across 2 enactments
Ayub Ali
The State of Assam Represented by the Public Prosecutor, Assam
Soumitra Saikia
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
