IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.BASANT WEDNESDAY, THE 1ST AUGUST 2007 / 10TH SRAVANA 1929 Crl.MC.No. 2452 of 2007() ------------------------- CRIME NO. 260/04 OF ATHUR POLICE STATION PETITIONER: ACCUSED NO.3 ------------------------ HASIM, S/O ZAINUDDIN ABDUKHADER, BUSHRA MANZIL, CHERKALA, CHENGALA VILLAGE, KASARGODE. BY ADV. SRI.T.G.RAJENDRAN RESPONDENTS: COMPLAINANT/STATE ------------------------------ 1. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ATHUR POLICE STATION. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA,ERNAKULAM. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI. GIKKU JACOB THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 01/08/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: R. BASANT, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crl.M.C.No. 2452 of 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 1st day of August, 2007 O R D E R The petitioner is an accused in a crime registered under the provisions of the Kerala Abkari Act. Investigation is complete. Final report has been filed. The petitioner was not arrested in the course of investigation. After the final report is filed, cognizance has been taken. Committal proceedings has been registered. A non-bailable warrant has been issued against the petitioner. The petitioner now finds such warrant of arrest chasing him. 2. According to the petitioner he is absolutely innocent. His failure/omission to appear earlier was not wilful, but was due to reasons beyond his control. He is willing to surrender before the learned Magistrate and seek bail. He shall co-operate with the Court for the expeditious disposal of the case. But he apprehends that his application for bail may not be considered by the learned Magistrate on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously. In these circumstances it is prayed that appropriate directions may be issued to the learned Magistrate to release the petitioner on bail on the date of surrender itself. Crl.M.C.No. 2452 of 2007 2 3. It is certainly for the petitioner to appear before the learned Magistrate and explain to the learned Magistrate the circumstances under which he could not earlier appear before the learned Magistrate. I have no reason to assume that the learned Magistrate would not consider the application for bail to be filed by the petitioner when he surrenders before the learned Magistrate, on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously. Every court must do the same. No special or specific direction appears to be necessary. Sufficient general directions have already been issued by this Court in the decision in Alice George v. Dy.S.P. of Police (2003 (1) KLT 339). 4. This application is accordingly dismissed. I may however hasten to observe that if the petitioner appears before the learned Magistrate and applies for bail after giving sufficient prior notice to the Prosecutor in charge of the case, the learned Magistrate must proceed to pass orders on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously - on the date of surrender itself. (R. BASANT) Judge tm