Bansidhar Sahoo & Another vs State Of Odisha
2022 Latest Caselaw 5975 Ori

                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

                                 ABLAPL No.13787 of 2022

                Bansidhar Sahoo & another       ....           Petitioners
                                        Mr. Sabyasachi Mishra, Advocate

                                            -versus-

               State of Odisha                          ....          Opp. Party
                                                       Mr. M.K. Mohanty, A.S.C.

                         CORAM:
                         JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH
                                        ORDER

Order No. 28.10.2022

02. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

2. Perused the case record.

3. The present application has been filed under Section 438, Cr.P.C. for release of the Petitioners on anticipatory bail.

4. In view of the bar under Sections 18 and 18-A of the SC & ST (PA) Act, the present application under Section 438, Cr.P.C. is not maintainable. The issue has been examined by the Apex Court in the matter of Prithviraj Chauhan v. Union of India and Others, reported in (2020) 1 OLR SC 419. In paragraph-10 of the said judgment, it has been held that the provision of Section 438, Cr.P.C. shall not apply to the case involving offence under SC & ST (PA) Act, 1989. While saying so the Apex Court has further observed that, if the complaint does not make out a prima facie case or applicability of the provision of the Act, the bar created by Sections 18 & 18-A of the Act shall not apply.

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5. Further, this Court in Pramod Kumar Ray and others v. State of Orissa, reported in (2017) 67 OCR 309, in the light of the principles laid down by the Apex Court, reiterated the same principles. Hence, this present application is disposed of with the following observation.

(i) In the event the Petitioner surrenders before the court in seisin over the matter in connection with Biridi P.S. Case No.208 of 2022 within three weeks from today, before the court in seisin over the matter the Petitioner shall serve copy of the bail application on the learned PP/Special PP as required by him for the purpose of notice to the victim or his/her counsel or dependent.

(ii) It is further directed that, on advance intimation, the Case Diary and other relevant materials be made available to the concerned court by the date of surrender.

(iii) 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 itself, strictly on its own merit.

In the circumstances, the Court is not precluded from granting any interim protection to the Petitioner in appropriate case, keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, upon his satisfaction.

6. The ABLAPL is disposed of accordingly.

( Chittaranjan Dash ) Judge S.K. Parida