IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc. No. M-19969 of 2010 Date of Decision: February 10, 2011 Karamjit Kaur and another …Petitioners Versus State of Punjab. … Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK SINGH 1. Whether reporters of local news papers may be Allowed to see judgment? 2. To be referred to reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present: Mr. P.K. Gupta, Advocate, for the petitioners. Ms. Bhavna Gupta, DAG, Haryana, for the respondent-State. Mr. P.S. Sekhon, Advocate, for the complainant. Alok Singh, J. (Oral) This is an application seeking anticipatory bail in case F.I.R. No. 151 dated 06.06.2010, under Sections 363/ 366A/376/120-B IPC, registered at Police Station City Sangrur. Petitioners are the ladies and are related to the main accused Maninder Singh. Vide order dated CRM M-19969 of 2010 15.07.2010, arrest of the petitioners was directed to be stayed. No material is placed on record by the prosecution that meanwhile petitioners have attempted to temper with any evidence. Learned counsel for the complainant, as well as, learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab , have vehemently argued that main accused – Maninder Singh has not been arrested so far, hence, petitioners are not entitled to be released on anticipatory bail. Hon’ble Apex Court in the matter of Siddhram Satlingappa Mhetre vs. State of Maharashtra reported in 2011(1) RCR (Criminal) 126 has observed that arrest should be the last resort and indiscriminate arrest must be avoidable. Considering totality of the circumstances, I direct that in the event of arrest, petitioners shall be released on bail to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer/Investigating Officer, subject to the conditions prescribed under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, it is clarified that petitioners shall participate in the investigation as and when they are required to do so. Disposed of accordingly. February 10, 2011 ( Alok Singh ) vkd Judge 2