Overview of the High Court’s New Direction
Punjab and Haryana High Court Simplifies Bail Process with an important decision. It now allows downloaded copies of bail orders, as long as they are attested by a lawyer, to be accepted instead of needing a certified copy. This change aims to speed up the process of releasing individuals who have been granted bail.
Why This Change Is Important
The court emphasized that this step is crucial for people in judicial custody. Everyone who is granted bail or has their sentence suspended deserves to regain their freedom without delays. Justices Anoop Chitkara and Mandeep Pannu explained that this decision helps address delays caused when the court’s registry or public prosecutors do not send the necessary orders quickly.
What the Court Said
The judges stated, “Whenever the bail order or the orders of suspension of sentence are not immediately sent by the Registry, computer systems, or Public Prosecutor, the downloaded copies of all such orders, subject to verification, must be accepted by the Court before whom the bail bonds are furnished.” This means that downloaded copies can be used while still allowing for verification by the appropriate officials.
Who Can Attest the Copies?
The new ruling also means that any lawyer representing the person can attest to a downloaded copy as a true copy once they retrieve it from the court’s website. Therefore, there is no longer any need for a certified copy for the bail process.
A Case Example: Amit Rana
This order came to light during a case involving Amit Rana, also known as Meeta. He was convicted in 2018 for kidnapping someone named Pardeep Singh in Gurgaon. The court accepted Rana’s request to suspend his sentence.
Details of the Conviction
Amit Rana was found guilty under several laws, including:
- 364A: Kidnapping for ransom
- 307: Attempt to murder
- 397: Robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
In December 2019, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the kidnapping charge and gave him additional sentences for the other charges.
How Long Has Rana Been in Custody?
According to his custody certificate from August 2, 2025, Rana has been in prison for eight years, three months, and five days, including time off for good behavior.
A Look Back at the Kidnapping Incident
The kidnapping took place on May 17, 2018. Early that morning, the Gurgaon police received word about a kidnapping case. Pardeep Singh was taken and a ransom of Rs 50,000 was demanded. His uncle, Upendra, who worked as an accountant, got calls from someone using Pardeep’s phone, asking for the money.
The Demands and Rescue
Upendra tried to collect the ransom. He managed to give the kidnappers Rs 20,000 at Hero Honda Chowk. Afterward, the kidnappers claimed they had shot Pardeep in the foot and left him near Bhondsi Jail Road. Fortunately, the police found Pardeep injured near Sector 62. They quickly took him to the hospital for treatment.
Investigating the Case
During the investigation, police arrested Amit Rana and a co-accused named Ajay for involvement in the kidnapping. Both were already in trouble for another case involving weapons. They later admitted their roles in the kidnapping. The police even recovered Rs 8,000 from Rana and Rs 7,500 from Ajay during their investigation.
The Legal Findings
The court recognized that the case met the conditions of Section 364A, which deals with kidnapping for ransom. However, the judges pointed out that there was no evidence linking the kidnappers to a government or foreign entity. Therefore, while acknowledging that the law could apply, they did not make a final determination at this stage.
Reasons for Suspending the Sentence
The court decided to suspend Rana’s sentence until further notice. They considered several factors:
- The ransom amount of Rs 50,000
- The gunshot injury, which was non-fatal
- Rana’s time served of over eight years
The judges ruled that these reasons provided sufficient grounds to grant him bail. Rana will be released if he is not needed in any other case. However, he must provide bonds that assure he will appear in court when required.
Conclusion
This ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court Simplifies Bail Process, marking a significant change in how bail is handled. It aims to reduce delays and make it easier for those who have been granted bail to regain their freedom. The case of Amit Rana serves as an example of how the court’s new approach will work in real situations.
