From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has decried Delhi High Court posting an anticipatory bail after two months, observing that the court is expected to pass orders at the earliest in one way or other in a matter involving personal liberty and granted an interim protection from arrest to the petitioner.
It was hearing a petition against a June 2 order of the the High Court posting the case for August 31, without granting any interim protection.
In its order passed on Monday, a vacation bench of Justices C T Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia observed: “We are of the considered view that in a matter involving personal liberty, the court is expected to pass orders in one way or other taking into account the merits of the matter at the earliest. At any rate, posting an application for anticipatory bail after a couple of months cannot be appreciated.”
The top court noted that the application was moved on May 24, requested the high court to dispose of the plea for anticipatory bail on its own merits and in accordance with law expeditiously, preferably within three weeks after re-opening of the court.
“If the main application could not be disposed of, for any reason, within the stipulated time, relief sought for in the interlocutory application shall be considered on its own merits. Till such time, we grant interim protection from arrest to the petitioner herein,” the bench said, while disposing of the petition.
The petitioner had sought relief from the High Court in a case relating to cheating and criminal conspiracy.
