SNE NETWORK.CHANDIGARH.
While granting bail to the accused in the NDPS case, the High Court made it clear that if the trial gets delayed due to continuous absence of prosecution witnesses, the government cannot oppose bail of the accused. The High Court said that the problem of drug addiction is very serious in Punjab and in such a situation, the absence of witnesses in NDPS cases is a matter of concern.
Manpreet Singh, a resident of Jalandhar, had filed a petition in the High Court seeking regular bail in the NDPS case on September 13, 2022 in Jalandhar. According to the FIR, the petitioner was caught with 3 kg of opium in his car. The counsel for the petitioner argued that after the charges were framed in April, 2023, the hearing of the case was repeatedly adjourned due to the absence of prosecution witnesses.
Despite the issuance of bailable warrants, they did not appear for testimony
All the prosecution witnesses are policemen and despite the issuance of bailable warrants against them, they did not appear for testimony. The petitioner has been in custody since September, 2022 and there is no possibility of the case being settled in the near future.
(DGP) was directed to appear and resolve the problem
The court said that due to this recurring problem, earlier also this court had directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab to appear and resolve the problem. The DGP had assured this court that such complaints would stop going forward.