Why in News?

• The Supreme Court has recently granted interim bail for eight weeks to Ashish Mishra, son of a Union Minister and prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings case, even as it described the crime as “ghastly” and “unfortunate”.

What is a Bail?

• Bail is the conditional/provisional release of a person held under legal custody (in matters which are yet to be pronounced by the Court), by undertaking a promise to appear in the Court as and when required.

About Default Bail:

• Legal Source: This is a right to bail that accrues when the police fail to complete investigation within a specified period in respect of a person in judicial custody.

• It is also known as statutory bail.
• This is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

• Supreme Court Judgment: In Bikramjit Singh case 2020, the Supreme Court had observed that the accused gets an indefeasible right to ‘default bail’ if he makes an application after the maximum period for investigation of an offence is over, and before a charge sheet is filed.

• Right to default bail under Section 167(2), CrPC not merely a statutory right, but part of procedure established by law under Article 21.

• Underlying Principle: In general, the right to bail on the investigation agency’s default is considered an ‘indefeasible right’, but it should be availed of at the appropriate time.

• Default bail is a right, regardless of the nature of the crime.
• The stipulated period within which the charge sheet has to be filed begins from the day the accused is remanded for the first time.
• Under Section 173 of CrPC, the police officer is obligated to file a report after the completion of the necessary investigation of an offence. This report is called the Charge Sheet in common parlance.

• Time Period: The issue of default bail arises where it is not possible for the police to complete an investigation in 24 hours, the police produce the suspect in court and seek orders for either police or judicial custody.

• For most offences, the police have 60 days to complete the investigation and file a final report before the court.
• However, where the offence attracts death sentence or life imprisonment, or a jail term of not less than 10 years, the period available is 90 days.
• In other words, a magistrate cannot authorise a person’s judicial remand beyond the 60-or 90-day limit.
• At the end of this period, if the investigation is not complete, the court shall release the person “if he is prepared to and does furnish bail”.

• Special Cases: The 60- or 90-day limit is only for ordinary penal law. Special enactments allow greater latitude to the police for completing the probe.

• In the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, the period is 180 days, which can be extended up to one year.
• In the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, the default limit is 90 days only, which can be extended to another 90 days.
• This extension can be granted only on a report by the Public Prosecutor indicating the progress made in the investigation and giving reasons to keep the accused in continued detention.
• These provisions show that the extension of time is not automatic but requires a judicial order.

Other Types of Bail in India:

• Regular Bail: It is a direction given by the Court (any Court within the country) to release a person who is already under arrest and kept in police custody. For such Bail, a person can file an application under Section 437 and 439 of the CrPC.
• Interim Bail: Bail granted for a temporary and short period by the Court till the application seeking Anticipatory Bail or Regular Bail is pending before a Court.
• Anticipatory Bail: A direction issued to release a person on Bail even before the person is arrested. In this situation, there is apprehension of arrest and the person is not arrested before the Bail is granted.

• For such Bail, a person can file an application under Sec. 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). It is issued only by the Sessions Court and High Court.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Arrest:

• Article 22 grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained. Detention is of two types, namely, punitive and preventive.
• Punitive detention is to punish a person for an offence committed by him after trial and conviction in a court.
• Preventive detention, on the other hand, means detention of a person without trial and conviction by a court.
• Article 22 has two parts—the first part deals with the cases of ordinary law and the second part deals with the cases of preventive detention law.