High Court modifies its order to release undertrial on bail

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21

An undertrial, who could not be released on bail because his 60-year-old mother could not furnish surety bonds following the Covid lockdown, will finally walk out of the jail with the Punjab and Haryana High Court modifying its previous orders.

Coming to his rescue, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi through videoconferencing ordered petitioner Manpreet Singh’s release on bail after furnishing personal bond of Rs 1 lakh to the Jalandhar Central jail superintendent.

Justice Tyagi made it clear that it would be appropriate to carry out the requisite process of furnishing personal bond in the jail itself in view of the prevailing situation.

The superintendent was asked to forward the bail documents to the trial court for record after attesting and accepting the same. Manpreet Singh was also directed to comply with all requisite conditions imposed during the lockdown/curfew, including the clause regarding his medical screening and social distancing.

Manpreet Singh had moved the High Court for direction to the trial court/district jail superintendent to release him in case of grievous hurt and other offences registered on January 3, 2009, under Sections 326, 325, 323, 324 and Section 34 of the IPC at Adampur police station in Jalandhar district without furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds as his mother was not in a position to furnish bail/surety bonds in accordance with order dated March 20 passed by the HC.