Distinction between revocation of perverse bail orders and cancellation due to post-grant misconduct reaffirmed.

The respondent, Seema Jakhar, was the SHO of Police Station Barloot when two individuals were intercepted with 141 kgs of poppy straw. It was alleged that the respondent accepted a bribe of ₹10,00,000 to manipulate the investigation, release the suspects, and record false entries in the police diary (Rajnamcha).

A Co-ordinate Bench of the Rajasthan High Court granted her bail on 20.07.2022, primarily noting that the alleged offence under Section 221 IPC carried a maximum sentence of three years and that the respondent was a woman in custody since 26.06.2022.

The State of Rajasthan filed this application under Section 439(2) of the Cr.P.C. to cancel/revoke the bail, arguing that the court failed to consider the gravity of the offences under Sections 8/15, 29, 27A, and 59 of the NDPS Act.

The court applied Section 439(2) of the Cr.P.C. regarding the power to cancel bail.

It relied on the distinction between "cancellation of bail" (based on post-grant misconduct) and "revocation of an illegal order," citing Abhimanyu Etc. v. State of Kerala (2025) and P. v. State of Madhya Pradesh.

It followed the principles from Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana (1995) and Gurcharan Singh v. State (Delhi Administration) (1978), which mandate that bail once granted should only be cancelled upon "strong and cogent evidence" of wrongdoing or violation of conditions.

The court also noted Section 437(1) Cr.P.C. and Kalvakuntla Kavitha v. Directorate of Enforcement (2024), which provide special considerations for granting bail to women.

The court reasoned that there is a sharp distinction between an appellate challenge to a bail order and an application for cancellation under Section 439(2).

It observed that the State’s primary grievance was an alleged error by the Co-ordinate Bench in evaluating the severity of the charges; however, the court clarified that it does not sit as an "Appellate Court" over a Bench of concurrent jurisdiction.

The court noted that the original bail order was passed in 2022, and nearly four years had elapsed without any evidence that the respondent misused her liberty, tampered with evidence, or influenced witnesses.

Furthermore, the court emphasized that the respondent's status as a woman entitling her to statutory consideration for bail under Section 437 Cr.P.C. remained a valid factor.

The court concluded that the application was "misconceived" and lacked merit as it merely sought to re-argue the gravity of the offence rather than proving a violation of bail conditions. The bail granted to Smt. Seema Jakhar remains intact.