Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on February 8, held that ‘mere delay in trial’ of a person charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (UAPA) is no ground to grant bail in grave offences.
The Bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Aravind Kumar, while denying bail to a man charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 for allegedly promoting the Khalistani terror movement, observed that under the UAPA, ‘jail is the rule and bail an exception.’
While denying bail to a man charged under the UAPA, for allegedly promoting the Khalistani terror movement, the Apex Court held that mere delay in trial is no ground to grant bail in grave offenses.
In his order, Justice Aravind Kumar said that the conventional idea in bail jurisprudence vis-à-vis ordinary penal offences that the discretion of Courts must tilt in favor of the often quoted phrase – bail is the rule, jail is the exception’ – unless circumstances justify otherwise.