Dismissed

Haladhar Mahanta v. State of Odisha

Orissa HC26 Jul 2022ABLAPL/8163/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Court held that Section 438 Cr.P.C. is not applicable to offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, relying on Supreme Court and High Court precedents. The petition was dismissed with directions for surrender.

What did the court decide?

Petitioner directed to surrender to Special Judge (S.C. & ST) Sundargarh by 17.08.2022 and serve copies of the bail application to the Public Prosecutor seven days prior.

Haladhar Mahanta Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2022)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

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ABLAPL No. 8170 of 2022

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Ashish Pradhan …. Petitioner

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Mr.Samarendra Bahadur, Advocate

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-versus-

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State of Odisha & another

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…. Opposite Parties Mr.M.K.Mohanty,A.S.C.

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CORAM:

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JUSTICE A.K. MOHAPATRA

Order No.

ORDER 26.07.2022

This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual/Physical Mode).

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Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State. Perused the records.

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The present application has been filed under Section 438 Cr.P.C. for releasing the Petitioner on anticipatory bail for alleged commission of office under Sections 147, 148, 323, 379, 354, 506, 149 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 3(1)®, 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of S.C. & S.T. (P.A.) Act. However, in view of the bar contained under S.C./S.T. (PA) Act, the present application u/s 438 Cr.P.C. is not maintainable. The provisions of section 438 Cr.P.C. is not applicable to the case registered involving an offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

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The aforesaid issue has also been examined by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Prathvi Raj Chauhan-vrs.

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// 2 //

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Union of India and others, reported in 2020(1) OLR (SC) 419. In Paragraph-10 of the said judgment it has been held that provision of section 438 Cr.P.C. shall not apply to the case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act , 1989. While saying so, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has further observed that if the complaint does not make out a prima facie case for applicability of the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the bar created by Sections 18 & 18-A of the Act shall not apply.

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Further, this Court has also elaborately discussed the issue in the case of Pramod Kumar Ray and others-vrs.-State of Odisha, reported in (2017) 67 OCR 309. In the light of the principle laid down by this Court in Pramod Kumar Ray (supra), the present bail application is being disposed of with the following observations. 6. The Petitioner shall surrender before the learned Special Judge (SC & ST) Sundargarh in.Spl.G.R.Case No.120 of 2022 arising out of Hemagiri P.S.Case No.160 of 2022 on or before 17.08.2022. Seven days before the Petitioner surrenders before the said Court, he or his counsel shall serve a copy of the bail application or such number of copies of the bail application on the learned Public Prosecutor/Special Public Prosecutor, as required by him, for the purpose of notice to the victim or his/her counsel or dependent.

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Further, it is directed that on advance intimation the case diary and other relevant materials be made available to the Court in seisin over the matter by the date of surrender. The learned Court in seisin over the matter is further directed to consider the case of the Petitioner in accordance with law and shall dispose of the bail application on the very same day. It is open to the learned court in seisin over the matter to grant interim bail to the Petitioner in appropriate case.

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// 3 //

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RKS

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The ABLAPL is disposed of.

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Issue urgent certified copy as per Rules.

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( A.K. Mohapatra ) Judge

Haladhar Mahanta v. State of Odisha

Case brief

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Haladhar Mahanta v. State of Odisha

Case brief

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