MANDEEP KOUR Vs. UT OF J&K

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is preferred under Sec. 483 of BNSS for grant of bail in favour of the applicant/accused namely Mandeep Kour in FIR No. 73/2023 of P/s Ramgarh under Sec. 302/109 IPC.

(2.) The petitioner is facing trial allegedly for commission of offence under Sec. 302/109 IPC before the Court of learned Principal Sessions Judge, Samba (the trial Court) and the formal charges against the accused have been framed on 20/5/2024. The record of the trial Court suggests that by now, out of 26 listed witnesses, the prosecution has recorded 03 witnesses including PW-2 and PW-3, whereas, only partial statement of PW-5 is recorded so far. PW-2 HC Meera Bakshi a witness to seizure memo of the inquest file and PW-3 PSI Anjum Hussain Shah a witness to the seizure memo of inquest file and disclosure memo whereas, PW-5 Bindu Devi is cited as circumstantial witness and she has been the sister of the deceased, Arti Devi, (wife of accused No. 1-Gurdeep Singh).

(3.) The petitioner has also filed application for grant of bail before the trial Court but the same came to be dismissed vide order dtd. 4/3/2025 mainly on the ground that the trial is at its initial stage and also for the reasons of seriousness of the alleged offence for which accused are sent up for trial.