PARMOD Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS application was presented to me in court by Smt. Parmod wife of Ravinder Kumar Singal who is presently facing trial in Bhatinda courts for offences under Sections 409/468/471 IPC. As there were allegations against two Judicial Officers posted at Bhatinda, Mr. Gurdial Singh Sandhu, CJM and Miss. Neelam Salaria, Judicial Magistrate, their comments were called for. These have been received. A reading of these comments indicates that the allegations made in the application were totally unwarranted. It appears that Ravinder Kumar Singal jumped bail on 24th December, 1994 and his surety bonds were forfeited, pursuant to the warrants of arrest issued thereafter, he was taken into custody on 13th January, 1995 and was sent to the Judicial lock-up till 16th January, 1995 and intimation in this regard was ordered to be sent to the court of Shri H.S. Bhalla, Addl. Sessions Judge, Bhatinda, and this information was in fact sent. It has been stated in the comments of Shri Sandhu, CJM, that the case is now fixed for 30th January, 1995 for the evidence of the prosecution, but there is no counsel who is willing or ready to represent his case. It has also been stated that no formal prayer has been made on behalf of the accused to furnish a fresh personal and surety bonds and if such prayer had been made, it would have been considered on merits. From the comments of Miss. Neelam Salaria, JMIC, Bhatinda, it is apparent that the conduct of Ravinder Kumar Singal is also not above board and wild and baseless allegations have been levelled. However, keeping in the view the facts of the case, it is in the interest of justice (and as suggested by the learned counsel for Ravinder Kumar Singal) it is ordered that the case be transferred from the courts at Bhatinda to District Sangrur. The Sessions Judge, Sangrur, will thereafter entrust the case to a competent court for trial and that court will ensure that the trial is concluded expeditiously. The court at Sangrur would take up the bail matter of Ravinder Kumar in case he makes an application for bail.