2017 - AP HIGH COURT DIGEST - JUNE 5 Whether the investigating officer can grant station bail to accused while dealing with him under Sec.41-A Cr.P.C when the offence is a special Act offence under ST & SC Act?- yes-
The offences alleged in the instant case are under Sec.323, 506 IPC and Sec.3(1)(x) of SC, ST (POA) Act, 1989. All the aforesaid offences are punishable with a term less than 7 years. Therefore, the procedure contemplated under Sec.41 and 41-A Cr.P.C, squarely apply to them and those Sections have not made any express distinction between the offences punishable under IPC and other Special enactments. Therefore, the contra view expressed by learned Addl. Junior Civil Judge, is incorrect. The explanation of the SDPO Madanapalle dated 13.04.2017 shows that since the offence was punishable below 7 years of imprisonment and as the accused had not failed to comply with the terms of notice under Sec.41-A Cr.P.C, the I.O did not consider it necessary to arrest the accused. Therefore, the I.O granted station bail by securing the bail bonds of the sureties on behalf of the accused. This procedural order under Sec.41-A Cr.P.C cannot be equated with an order passed by a Court under Sec....