Crl. Misc. No.M-24594 of 2011 [1] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl. Misc. No. M-24594 of 2011 Date of Decision: August 16, 2011 Avtar Singh and others …..Petitioners Vs. State of Punjab …..Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M.S. BEDI. -.- Present:- Mr.Vikas Bahl, Advocate for the petitioners. -.- M.M.S. BEDI, J. (ORAL) Petitioners seek the concession of pre-arrest bail in a case registered at the instance of Laxmi Devi, complainant under Sections 451, 323, 506, 149 IPC and under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). Counsel for the petitioners submits that the FIR has been got registered by the complainant Sarpanch as a counter-blast to a case Crl. Misc. No.M-24594 of 2011 [2] registered on the basis of a complaint by petitioners No.1, 2, 6 and 7 alleging that she had committed irregularities in pension distribution. It has been argued that the matter had earlier been investigated by an officer of the rank of DSP and the allegations under the provisions of the Act have not been made out. It is submitted by counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners have got an apprehension that the application filed by the complainant in the Court for addition of the offences under the Act will be allowed on August 20, 2011 and in case of said eventuality, the petitioners will be taken in custody as the offence is triable by Special Judge. Heard. Apprehension of the petitioners appears to be misconceived and far-fetched. The petition is premature at this stage. Petition is disposed of with a direction that in case the trial Court opts to allow the application for addition of offence under the provisions of the Act, the petitioners will not be arrested for a period of 10 days in order to enable them to avail the legal remedy available to them under Section 438 Cr.P.C. August 16, 2011 (M.M.S.BEDI) sanjay JUDGE