High Court sets aside Punjab minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer’s bail cancellation order

Chandigarh, January 15

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today set aside an order passed by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate cancelling the bail granted to Punjab Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and two others in an FIR registered in October 2020 at a police station in Chandigarh under Section 188 of the IPC regarding disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant.

Justice Vikas Bahl asserted it was not in dispute that the petitioners’ specific applications seeking exemption from appearance on December 16, 2023, were rejected and non-bailable warrants were issued on the same date

Taking up the petition filed through counsel Ferry Sofat, Justice Bahl added the case was now stated to be listed for hearing on February 3. The petitioners had undertaken to appear on the date and also to get their statements recorded under Section 313 of the CrPC. In case the matter was adjourned to any further date, the petitioners undertook to appear till the time their statements under Section 313 were not recorded.

“The whole purpose, as also stated by the counsel appearing on behalf of respondent, is to secure the presence of the petitioners before the trial court for the purpose of recording their statements under Section 313, CrPC. Also, the offence under Section 188 of IPC is bailable. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, the present petition is allowed, subject to the condition that the petitioners would appear before the trial Court on February 3 to get their statements recorded under Section 313, CrPC”.

Justice Bahl added they would also appear on the adjourned date till the time their statements were not fully recorded in case the matter was adjourned for any reason. “In case, the petitioners appear on the next date of hearing before the trial Court on February 3, then the petitioners would be released on bail on the earlier surety bonds,” Justice Bahl concluded.