R/CR.MA/2734/2018 ORDER

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL) NO. 2734 of 2018

BHARATBHAI BACHUBHAI PARMAR….Applicant(s)
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT….Respondent(s)

Appearance:
MS URMILA N DESAI, ADVOCATE for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MS NISHA THAKORE, ADDL. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR for the Respondent(s)
No. 1

CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.H.VORA

Date : 08/02/2018

ORAL ORDER

1. Heard learned advocate Ms. Urmila Desai for the
applicant and learned APP for the respondent State.

2. This application is filed under Section 439 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure for regular bail in connection with F.I.R.
registered at C.R. No. I – 26/2016 with Gir Gadhada Police
Station for the offences punishable under Sections 363, 366
and 376 of the IPC and u/s 11(1) of the POCSO Act.

3. Learned advocate Ms. Urmila Desai for the applicant has
submitted that the applicant and the prosecutrix were in love
with each other and the prosecutrix accompanied the
applicant of her own and thereby, abandoned the
guardianship of her parents voluntarily. Learned advocate

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Ms. Urmila Desai further states at bar that the applicant is
ready and willing to marry with the victim girl after the victim
girl attains the age of majority.

4. Learned APP, while opposing the application, has
submitted that at the relevant time, the prosecutrix was aged
17 years 06 months. She being the minor, the question of
consent does not arise and therefore, the offence u/s 376 read
with POCSO Act has been committed and therefore, the
applicant may not be enlarged on bail.

5. Heard learned advocates appearing for the respective
parties in great detail and perused the records.

6. This is an unusual case of boy and girl having affair. As
the prosecutrix was minor, the applicant is sent behind prison
because of the complaint lodged by the father of the
prosecutrix. Undoubtedly, a minor girl is to be protected
under law as there are number of instances of sexual abuses
of minor girls and therefore, there is a special legislation of
POCSO in the year 2012 and amendment in sections 375 and
376 of the IPC in 2014. The judiciary takes a very serious
note of sexual offences against women and specially against
minor girls. Upon reading of the statement of the prosecutrix,
they both eloped. Further, the trial Court rejected bail
application mainly on the ground that the girl is minor and her
consent is immaterial.

7. In the present case, the prosecutrix is 17 years 06
months old and the accused is 22 years old. It appears from
the record and the statement of the prosecutrix that the

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prosecutrix was in love with the applicant and left the home of
her own and moved with the applicant at various places.
These are the mitigating factors and therefore, present
application deserves consideration.

8. Hence, the application is allowed and the applicant is
ordered to be released on bail in connection with C.R. No. I –
26/2016 with Gir Gadhada Police Station, on executing a
bond of Rs.10,000/-(Rupees Ten Thousand only) with one
surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court
and subject to the conditions that the applicant shall;

[a] not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse
liberty;

[b] not act in a manner injurious to the interest of
the prosecution;

[c] not leave the territory of India without prior
permission of the Sessions Judge concerned;

[d] appear before the Investigation Officer
concerned, as and when required for
investigation purpose and attend the Court
concerned regularly.

[e] furnish the present address of residence along
with the proof to the I.O. concerned and also
to the Court at the time of execution of the
bond and shall not change the residence
without prior permission of Sessions Court
concerned;

[f] file an undertaking on oath within three days
from his release to the effect that the
applicant would marry with the victim girl
upon her attaining the age of majority, if the
victim is desirous to marry him.

9. The competent authority will release the applicant only if

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the applicant is not required in connection with any other
offence for the time being. If breach of any of the above
conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be
free to take appropriate action in the matter. Bail bond to be
executed before the lower court having jurisdiction to try the
case. It will be open for the concerned Court to delete, modify
and/or relax any of the above conditions in accordance with
law. At the trial, the trial court shall not be influenced by the
observations of preliminary nature, qua the evidence at this
stage, made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on
bail.

10. Rule made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct
service is permitted.

(S.H.VORA, J.)
shekhar

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