IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.BASANT WEDNESDAY, THE 5TH SEPTEMBER 2007 / 14TH BHADRA 1929 Bail Appl..No. 5287 of 2007() ----------------------------- AGAINST THE ORDER IN LP 200/2002 IN CC.190/1999 of CHIEF JUDL.MAGISTRATE, ERNAKULAM .................... PETITIONER/ACCUSED ----------------------------------- JAMES, PROPRIETOR, ST.JAMES PAPER MART, CONVENT ROAD, CHALAKKUDY. BY ADV. SRI.A.C.DEVY RESPONDENTS: STATE ------------------ STATE OF KERALA, REP.BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.JAI GEORGE THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 05/09/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: R.BASANT, J. ---------------------- B.A.No.5287 of 2007 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 5th day of September 2007 O R D E R Application for anticipatory bail. The petitioner faces indictment in a prosecution under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The prosecution was launched as early as in 1999. The matter was initially pending as C.C.No.190/1999. Consequent to non-appearance of the petitioner, the case has later been transferred to the list of long pending cases. The learned Magistrate has issued coercive processes to secure the presence of the petitioner. The petitioner finds a warrant of arrest issued by the learned Magistrate chasing him. 2. According to the petitioner, he is absolutely innocent. He was not served with any notice of summons to appear before court. He was allegedly blissfully ignorant of the pendency of the proceedings. The petitioner now wants to surrender before the learned Magistrate. But he apprehends that his application for bail may not be considered by the learned Magistrate on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously. He, therefore, prays that directions under Section 482 Cr.P.C. may be issued to the learned Magistrate to release the petitioner on bail when he appears and applies for bail. B.A.No.5287/07 2 3. It is 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 find absolutely no reason to assume that the learned Magistrate would not consider the application for bail to be filed by the petitioner on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously. Every court must do the same. No special or specific directions appear to be necessary. Sufficient general directions have been issued in Alice George vs. Deputy Superintendent of Police [2003(1)KLT 339]. 4. In the result, this bail application is dismissed but with the specific observation that if the petitioner surrenders 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 appropriate orders on merits, in accordance with law and expeditiously - on the date of surrender itself. Hand over copy of this order to the learned counsel for the petitioner. (R.BASANT, JUDGE) jsr // True Copy// PA to Judge B.A.No.5287/07 3 B.A.No.5287/07 4 R.BASANT, J. CRL.M.CNo. ORDER 21ST DAY OF MAY2007