IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CR. REV. No.461 of 2009 RANJIT SINGH Versus STATE OF BIHAR ----------- 4. 30.06.2009 Heard counsel for the parties. The petitioner, who has been declared juvenile, has approached this Court questioning the order dated 3rd February,2009, whereby his prayer for grant of bail has been rejected by the learned lower appellate court. It appears that the petitioner along with one Raj Kumar Singh was found traveling on a vehicle which was searched by the police and a huge quantity of contraband articles(Ganja) was/were recovered from the rear side of the said vehicle. It is contended that the seizure list does not carry the signature of the petitioner. It is further contended that he is languishing in jail since 5.01.2008. It appears that the learned Juvenile Justice Board under order dated 23.12.2008 initially considered the petitioner’s prayer for grant of bail which was refused having regard to the facts emanating from the records. While rejecting the prayer for bail, it was observed that there are recoveries of huge quantity of Ganja from the conscious possession of the petitioner and that his release would defeat the ends of justice. The appellate court, having regard to the materials on record observed in paragraph 6 as under: - 2 - “Aforesaid findings drawn from F.I.R. and case diary of the case, shows that the appellant was in the company of and was working for gang of international smugglers engaged in smuggling of contraband narcotics across the international borders. This gives rise to a reasonable apprehension and ground to believe that if the appellant is released on bail it is likely to bring him into association of known criminals and also can expose him to moral and psychological danger, adversely affecting the future of the appellant.” Having regard to the aforesaid facts this Court is not persuaded to admit him to bail by allowing the present application. The application is, therefore, rejected. However, having regard to the fact that he is in custody since 5.01.2008, this Court observes that let the trial court take appropriate steps to take up the trial and conclude the examination of all prosecution witnesses within a period of nine months from the date of receipt//communication of this order. If the trial court is not able to conclude the prosecution evidence within the time-frame, as mentioned above, the petitioner shall have liberty to renew his prayer for bail before the court concerned which shall be considered on its own merit uninfluenced by the present order passed in this proceeding. hr ( Kishore K. Mandal )