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Bail

Bail commonly means release on one’s own bond, with or without sureties. Every accused person is presumed to be innocent until proved guilty The effect of granting bail is not to set the accused free, but to release him from custody and to entrust him to the custody of his sureties who are bound to produce him to appear at his trial at a specified time and place.

Bailable / Non-Bailable Offences

The offences committed by an accused fall under two categories:

1. Bailable Offences

   When any person accused for a bailable offence is arrested or

   detained without warrant by an officer in charge of a police station, or appears or is brought before a Court, and is prepared at any time while in the custody of such officer or at any stage of the proceeding before such Court to give bail, such person shall be released on bail.

   In case of a bailable offence bail is a matter of right

   If such officer or Court, thinks it fit such person maybe released on a personal bond without sureties. In case of bailable offence, one has to only file the bail bonds and no application is required.

2. Non-Bailable Offences

   In case a person is accused of a non-bailable offence it is a matter of discretion of the court to grant or refuse bail and and application has to be made in court to grant bail.

   1. When a person accused of, or suspected of, the commission of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by an officer in charge of a police station or appears or is brought before a Court other than the High Court or Court of Session, he may be released on bail, but
      1. such person shall not be released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life;
      2. such person shall not be so released if such offence is a cognizable offence and he had been previously convicted of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for seven years or more, or he had been previously convicted on two or more occasions of a non-bailable and cognizable offence :

      Provided that the Court may direct that a person referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) as above, be released on bail if such person is under the age of sixteen years or is a woman or is sick or infirm:

      Provided further that the Court may also direct that a person referred to in clause (ii) be released on bail if it is satisfied that it is just and proper so to do for any other special reason:

      Provided also that the mere fact that an accused may be required for being identified by witnesses during investigation shall not be sufficient ground for refusing to grant bail if he is otherwise entitled to be released on bail and gives an undertaking that he shall comply with such directions as may be given by the Court.

   2. If it appears to such officer or Court at any stage of the investigation; inquiry or trial, as the case may be, that there are not reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has committed non-bailable offence, but that there are sufficient grounds for further inquiry into his guilt, the accused shall, subject to the provision of section 446-A and pending such inquiry, be released on bail or, at the discretion of such officer or Court, on the execution by him of a bond without sureties for his appearance as hereinafter provided.
   3. When a person accused or suspected of the commission of an offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or more or of an offence under Chapter 6, Chapter 16 or Chapter 17 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or abetment of, or conspiracy or attempt to commit, any such offence, is released on bail under sub-section (!), the Court may impose any condition which the Court considers necessary-
      1. in order to ensure that such person shall attend in accordance with the conditions of the bond executed under this Chapter, or
      2. in order to ensure that such person shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused or of the commission of which he is suspected, or
      3. otherwise in the interests of justice.
   4. An officer or a Court releasing any person on bail under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), shall record in writing his or its reasons or special reasons for so doing.
   5. Any Court, which has released a person on bail under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), may, if it considers it necessary so to do, direct that such person be arrested and commit him to custody.
   6. If, in any case triable by a Magistrate, the trial of a person accused of any non-bailable offence is not concluded within a period of sixty days from the first date fixed for taking evidence in the case, such person shall, if he is if custody during the whole of the said period, be released on bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate, unless for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Magistrate otherwise directs.
   7. If, at any time after the conclusion of the trial of a person accused of a non-bailable offence and before judgment is delivered, the Court is of opinion that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not guilty of any such offence, it shall release the accused if he is in custody, on the execution by him of a bond without sureties for his appearance to hear judgment delivered

Application For Bail