High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDismissed

Mahesh K alias Battampara Mahesh v. State of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • B. Sudheendra Kumar
Judgment Date
2015-11-11
Court Decision / Holding
The Criminal Revision Petition is dismissed; the order cancelling the bail stands and the bail cancellation pursuant to CMP 1789/2015 is upheld.
Final Disposition
Dismissed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Mahesh K alias Battampara Mahesh, aged 19 years, S/o. Dayanandan, Battampara House, Battampara Ramdas Nagar, Kudlu, Kasaragod

Respondents

  • The Station House Officer, Kasaragod Police Station
  • State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam-682031

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Adv. Sri T.G. Rajendran

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Public Prosecutor Sri V.S. Sreejith

Case Synopsis & Summary

Mahesh K alias Battampara Mahesh, aged 19, was the first accused in Kasaragod Police Station Crime No. 1048 of 2014. He was granted bail by the magistrate under the proviso to Section 167(2) Cr.P.C. with conditions, including appearance before the Investigating Officer on Mondays and Wednesdays and a directive to refrain from similar offences during bail. The State filed CMP 1789/2015 seeking cancellation of the bail on the ground that the petitioner had violated the bail conditions by not appearing on Mondays and by engaging in four subsequent crimes (Crimes 538 of 2015, 540 of 2015, 472 of 2015, and 248 of 2015) in Kasaragod and Hosdurg, along with a history of prior serious offences. The petitioner contended that the condition was to avoid similar offences and not to commit any offence, and that the subsequent offences were not similar to the original crime; he also argued, relying on James George @ Basaliyos Marthoma Yakob-Pradaman v. State of Kerala, that Section 437(5) Cr.P.C. could not be used to cancel bail and that cancellation was unwarranted when bail was granted under the proviso to Section 167(2). The court examined whether a magistrate can cancel bail granted under proviso to Section 167(2) by invoking Section 437(5), and concluded that such bail bears the same incidents as bail under Section 437(1)/(2) and therefore can be cancelled under Section 437(5). Relying on Latheef, Bashir, and Reghuvir Singh, the court held there is power to cancel; the revision petition was dismissed, upholding the cancellation of bail.

Provisions of Law Cited

Proviso to Section 167(2) Cr.P.C.Section 437(5) Cr.P.C.Section 437(1) Cr.P.C.Section 437(2) Cr.P.C.Section 439(2) Cr.P.C.Section 151 Cr.P.C.Section 353 IPCSection 294(b) IPCSection 3(1) PDPP ActSection 117(e) KP ActSections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 120(B), 202, 212, 153(A) and 302 read with Section 149 IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Magistrate has power to cancel bail under Section 437(5) Cr.P.C. even when bail was granted under proviso to Section 167(2) Cr.P.C.
  • Bail under proviso to Section 167(2) Cr.P.C. has the same incidents as bail under Section 437(1)/(2) Cr.P.C.
  • To cancel bail, the proper route is Sections 437(5) or 439(2) Cr.P.C.; bail under proviso to 167(2) can be cancelled under 437(5).

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The revision petitioner contends that the bail was conditioned to avoid committing similar offences and to refrain from any offence while on bail; since the subsequent crimes are not similar to Crime No. 1048/2014, there was no violation of the bail conditions. He relies on James George @ Basaliyos Marthoma Yakob-Pradaman v. State of Kerala (2015(4) KHC 943) to contend that Section 437(5) Cr.P.C. is not meant for cancelling bail, and thus the court below lacked jurisdiction to cancel bail under 437(5) where bail was granted under the proviso to 167(2). He also argued that the proviso bail has different incidents and should not be cancelled under 437(5).

Contentions of Respondents

The State argues that the petitioner violated bail conditions by failing to appear on Mondays and by involvement in four subsequent crimes; such violations justify cancellation under 437(5) Cr.P.C. The State relies on established jurisprudence that bail can be cancelled when conditions are breached and that bail granted under proviso to 167(2) has the same incidents as bail under Chapter 33 of the Cr.P.C., citing Bashir v. State of Haryana; Reghuvir Singh and Others v. State of Bihar; and Latheef (supra).

Cited Precedents (4)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
James George @ Basaliyos Marthoma Yakob-Pradaman v. State of Kerala2015(4) KHC 943OverruledThe court notes that the proposition in James George that Section 437(5) Cr.P.C. is not meant for cancellation of bail is not accepted; the court relies on Latheef and others to affirm the power to cancel bail under 437(5).
Latheef @ Abdul Latheef v. State of Kerala2011 (2) KLT 231PositiveHeld that the Magistrate who granted bail under S.437(1) and (2) Cr.P.C. has the right to cancel the bail under S.437(5) Cr.P.C.
Bashir v. State of HaryanaAIR 1978 SC 55PositiveHeld bail under proviso to 167(2) Cr.P.C. has the same incidents as bail under Chapter 33, supporting cancellation under 437(5).
Reghuvir Singh and Others v. State of BiharAIR 1987 SC 149PositiveHeld that to cancel bail, whether under proviso to 167(2) or under Chapter 33, the proper mechanism is Section 437(5) or 439(2).

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

**CR** IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.SUDHEENDRA KUMAR WEDNESDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2015/20TH KARTHIKA, 1937 Crl.Rev.Pet.No. 1270 of 2015 () -------------------------------- AGAINST THE ORDER IN CMP 1789/2015 of J.M.F.C.,KASARAGOD DATED 10-08-2015 REVISION PETITIONER(S)/REVISION PETITIONER/IST ACCUSED: ----------------------------------------------------- MAHESH K alias BATTAMPARA MAHESH, AGED 19 YEARS S/O. DAYANANDAN, BATTAMPARA HOSUE, BATTAMPARA RAMDAS NAGAR, KUDLU, KASARAGOD. BY ADV. SRI.T.G.RAJENDRAN RESPONDENT(S)/RESPONDENTS/COMPLAINANT/.STATE: -------------------------------------------- 1. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KASARAGOD POLICE STATION PIN - 671121. 2. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682031. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.V.S. SREEJITH THIS CRIMINAL REVISION PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 27-10-2015, THIS COURT ON 11-11-2015, PASSED THE FOLLOWING: **CR** ## **B. SUDHEENDRA KUMAR, J.** ..................................................... **Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015** ..................................................... ## **Dated this the 11[th] day of November, 2015** ## **ORDER** The petitioner is the first accused in Crime No. 1048 of 2014 of Kasaragod Police Station. The petitioner was granted bail by the court below under proviso to Section 167 (2) of the Code, imposing certain conditions. Thereafter, CMP No. 1789 of 2015 was filed by the first respondent before the court below praying for canceling the order of bail, stating that the petitioner violated the conditions of the order granting bail. ## 2. Heard both sides. 3. The offences alleged against the petitioner in Crime No.1048 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station are offences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 120(B), 202, 212, 153 (A) and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC. 4. It appears that at the time of granting bail, the court below directed the petitioner to appear before the Investigating Officer between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on every Monday and Wednesday till the filing of the final report. It was further directed by the court below that the petitioner should not get involved in similar offences while on bail. -: 2 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 5. The respondent would contend that the petitioner never appeared before the Investigating Officer on any Monday, as directed by the court below, eventhough the petitioner used to appear on every Wednesday before the Investigating Officer. That apart, the petitioner was involved in four other crimes after the granting of bail by the court below. Thus, the petitioner violated the conditions of the order granting bail by the court below, and in the said circumstances, the respondent filed the above CMP for cancellation of the bail. 6. The learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the direction of the court below was not to commit similar offences and not to commit any offence while on bail and since the offences alleged in the subsequent crimes are not similar offences, it cannot be said that there was violation of the condition of the order granting bail. It was further argued by the learned counsel for the revision petitioner, relying on the decision in James George @ Basaliyos Marthoma Yakob-Pradaman v. State of Kerala [2015(4) KHC 943), that the provisions under Section 437 (5) of the Code is not meant for cancellation of bail and hence the court below had no power to cancel the bail invoking the provisions under Section 437 (5) of the Code. The learned -: 3 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 counsel for the petitioner has further argued that since the bail was granted by the court below under the proviso to Section 167 (2) of the Code, the court below had no jurisdiction to cancel the bail invoking the provisions of Section 437 (5) of the Code even if it is assumed that the Court is having the jurisdiction to cancel the bail granted under sub-section (1) or (2) of Section 437 of the Code, invoking the provisions of Section 437 (5) of the Code. 7. The records would show that the petitioner was involved in the following crimes subsequent to the granting of bail:- 1)Crime No. 538 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Section 151 Cr.P.C. 2)Crime No.540 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Sections 353, 294 (b) IPC & Section 3 (1) of PDPP Act. 3)Crime No. 472 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Section 117 (e) of KP Act. Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 -: 4 :- 4)Crime No. 248 of 2015 of Hosdurg Police Station registered under Sections 143, 147 and 353 read with Sec. 149 IPC and Section 3 (1) of PDPP Act. 8. The offences involved in this case are offences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 202, 212, 120(B), 153(A) and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC. The offence under Section 302 IPC comes under Chapter 16 of the Code, which deals with offences affecting the human body. Section 353 IPC, which is one of the offences in Crime No. 540 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station, also falls under the same Chapter. The offence under Section 449 IPC falls under Chapter 17 of the Code which deals with offences against property. Therefore, there is no substance in the argument of the learned counsel for the revision petitioner that the revision petitioner did not commit similar offences after being enlarged on bail in Crime No. 1048 of 2014 of Kasaragod Police Station. That apart, by similar offences, the court below would have never intended that the subsequent offences must be the same offences as involved in Crime No. 1048 of 2014 of Kasaragod Police Station. The petitioner was involved in four other crimes as mentioned above, subsequent to his release on bail in Crime No. 1048 of 2014 of Kasaragod Police Station. -: 5 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 Therefore, there is sufficient justification for the learned Magistrate to cancel the bail. In view of the above reasons, the argument advanced by the learned counsel in this regard cannot be accepted. 9. It is also to be noted that the petitioner was also involved in eleven other crimes of serious nature prior to the registration of the present crime. It is not disputed that the petitioner did not appear before the Investigating Officer on any Monday as directed by the court below. That also indicates that the petitioner violated the conditions of the order granting bail. 10. Now the question to be considered is as to whether the learned Magistrate is having the power to cancel the bail under Section 437 (5) of the Code. 11. In James George (supra), the learned Single Judge held thus: “The provisions contained under Sections 439 (2) Cr.P.C. and 437 (5) Cr.P.C. are not meant for cancellation of bail; whereas those provisions are meant for arrest of an accused who was -: 6 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 ## enlarged on bail”. 12. A Division Bench of this Court in Latheef @ Abdul Latheef v. State of Kerala [2011 (2) KLT 231 held thus: “In the light of the decisions cited supra, there is no doubt in our mind that the Magistrate who granted bail under S.437 (1) and (2) Cr.P.C. has the right to cancel the bail under S. 437(5) of the Cr.P.C. Sec. 437 (5) is the source of power for the Magistrate to cancel the bail granted under Sec. 437 (1) and (2) Cr.P.C.” It is clear from the above decision of the Division Bench that the Magistrate has power to cancel the bail granted by him invoking the provisions of Section 437 (5) of the Code. Therefore, the argument in this regard fails. 13. Now the question to be considered is as to whether the Court can cancel the bail granted under proviso to Section 167 (2) of the Code invoking the power under Sec. 437 (5) of the Code. -: 7 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 14. The Apex Court in Bashir v. State of Haryana [AIR 1978 SC 55] held that the bail granted under Section 167(2) of the Code has the same incidents as the bail granted under Chapter 33. 15. Section 437 comes under Chapter 33 of the Code. Therefore, once the bail is granted under the proviso to Section 167 (2) of the Code, it has the same incidents as the bail granted under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 437 of the Code. Consequently, the bail granted under Section 167 (2) of the Code can be cancelled invoking the provisions under **Section 437 (5)** of the Code. 16. The Apex Court in Reghuvir Singh and Others v. State of Bihar [AIR 1987 SC 149] held that when an accused is granted bail whether under the proviso to Section 167 (2) or under the provisions of Chapter 33, the only way to cancel the bail is to proceed under Section 437 (5) or 439 (2) of the Code. 17. Thus, it is explicit from the above decisions that even if the bail is granted under proviso to Sec. 167 (2) of the Code, the Magistrate is having power to cancel the bail under Section 437 -: 8 :- Crl.R.P. No. 1270 of 2015 (5) of the Code. For the above reasons, the argument advanced by the learned counsel for the petitioner in this regard lacks merits. 18. Having gone through the order impugned, I find no reason to hold that the order impugned suffers from any infirmity, warranting interference by this Court. In the result, this petition stands dismissed. Dated this the 11th day of November, 2015. B. SUDHEENDRA KUMAR, JUDGE. Ani/9/11/2015