Bhagwam Rama Shinde Gosai And Ors vs State Of Gujarat on 12 May, 1999 Equivalent citations: AIR 1999 SUPREME COURT 1859, 1999 (4) SCC 421, 1999 AIR SCW 1462, 1999 CRILR(SC MAH GUJ) 345, 1999 ALLMR(CRI) 2 985, (1999) 2 KER LT 78, 1999 CRILR(SC&MP) 345, 1999 (3) LRI 626, 1999 (3) SCALE 539, 1999 CRIAPPR(SC) 265, 1999 CALCRILR 247, 1999 SCC(CRI) 553, 1999 (6) SRJ 414, (1999) 4 JT 1 (SC), (1999) 2 MADLW(CRI) 538, (1999) 2 EASTCRIC 78, (1999) 2 KER LJ 498, (1999) 17 OCR 90, (1999) 5 SUPREME 356, (1999) 25 ALLCRIR 1508, (1999) 3 SCALE 539, (1999) 39 ALLCRIC 302, (1999) 2 CHANDCRIC 51, (1999) 2 ALLCRILR 456, (1999) 3 CRIMES 54, (1999) 2 ORISSA LR 162, (1999) 2 RECCRIR 770, (1999) 3 CURCRIR 55, (1999) SC CR R 485, 1999 CHANDLR(CIV&CRI) 148 Bench: K.T. Thomas, M.B. Shah CASE NO.: Appeal (crl.) 554 of 1999 PETITIONER: BHAGWAM RAMA SHINDE GOSAI AND ORS. RESPONDENT: STATE OF GUJARAT DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/05/1999 BENCH: K.T. THOMAS & M.B. SHAH JUDGMENT: JUDGMENT 1999 (3) SCR 545 The following Order of the Court was delivered : Leave granted. This is a case where appellants have been convicted by the trial court of the offence under Section 392 read with Section 397 and each of Them was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. They filed an appeal before the High Court of Gujarat and moved for suspension of sentence, but that was not allowed. At a later stage they again moved for suspension of sentence and that too was dismissed by the impugned order. Unfortunately, when they made a motion for having their appeal expedited that also was declined by the High Court on the premise that the High Court is having older appeals on the board. When a convicted person is sentenced to fixed period of sentence and when he files appeal under any statutory right, suspension of sentence can be considered by the appellate court liberally unless Bhagwam Rama Shinde Gosai And Ors vs State Of Gujarat on 12 May, 1999  1 there are exceptional circumstances. Of course if there is any statutory restriction against suspension of sentence it is a different matter. Similarly, when the sentence is life imprisonment the consideration for suspension of sentence could be of a different approach. But if for any reason the sentence of limited duration cannot be suspended every endeavour should be made to dispose of the appeal on merits more so when motion for expeditious hearing the appeal is made in such cases. Otherwise the very valuable right of appeal would be an exercise in futility by efflux of time. When the appellate court finds that due to practical reasons such appeals cannot be disposed of expeditiously the appellate court must bestow special concern in the matter suspending the sentence, so as to make the appeal right meaningful and effective. Of course appellate courts can impose similar conditions when bail is granted. In this case as the High Court was not inclined to hear the appeal expeditiously we are of the view that the sentence passed on appellants can be suspended on some stringent conditions. We, therefore, suspend the sentence and direct the appellants to be released on bail on each of them executing a bond to the satisfaction of Additional Sessions Judge, Nadiad. We direct the appellants to report to Kapadwang Police Station on all Mondays and Thursdays between 4.00 P.M. and 6.00 P.M. until disposal of the appeal pending before the High Court. This appeal is disposed of in the above terms. Bhagwam Rama Shinde Gosai And Ors vs State Of Gujarat on 12 May, 1999  2