JAMIL vs THE STATE
This criminal revision petition challenges the order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mardan, directing the petitioner, who merely verified the bail bond of an accused, to deposit the forfeited surety amount of Rs. 25,000 after the accused absented herself. The core legal question was whether a verifier or attestator of a bail bond falls within the purview of "persons bound by such bond" under Section 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and can be held financially liable for the default of the accused. The Peshawar High Court held that the role of a verifier is strictly limited to satisfying the court regarding the reliability and financial means of the sureties, and a verifier is not a surety or a person bound by the terms of the bail bond under Section 514 Cr.P.C. The court established the principle that a verifier of a bail bond cannot be legally burdened with the penal consequences of bond forfeiture unless specifically bound by a competent court order within the legal framework.
- Whether a verifier of a bail bond can be held liable under Section 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 for the default of the accused?
- Does the attestation of a bail bond bring the verifier within the purview of 'persons bound by such bond'?
- Can a court exceed its authority under Section 514 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 by penalizing a bail bond verifier?
- Section 11, Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979
- Section 514, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 599, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
' SALIM KHAN, J.-Vide order dated 23-11-2006 in case No. 157/4, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Mardan directed the petitioner, being verifier of the bond and equally responsible in view of the terms and condition of the bail bond, to deposit the amount of Rs.25,000 within 15 days.
2. The facts leading to the said order were that Mst. Samina was charged for offence under section 11 of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 vide F.I.R. No.305 dated 6-10- 2002. She was ordered to be released on bail with two sureties. Abdus Sattar and Muhammad Sherein stood sureties for her and Jamil petitioner verified the bail bond. The accused absented herself and notice was issued to the sureties under section 514, Cr.P.C. Abdus Sattar surety appeared while Muhammad Sherein could out (sic) and could not be brought to the Court by the present petitioner in spite of the fact that many opportunities were given to him and police assistance was also provided to the present petitioner.
3- I heard arguments of the learned counsel to the petitioner and the State and perused the record.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner argued that the petitioner was only a verifier of the bail bond and was not bound by the terms and conditions of the bail bond. He relied on PLD 1972 AJK 42, 1999 Pakistan Criminal Law Journal 1079 and 2004 YLR 1240.
5. The learned counsel for the State, on the other side, contended that the present petitioner had taken it upon himself that he would pay the amount if the sureties could not pay the same. The provisions of sections 514 and 599 Cr.P.C. Have been explained in the above mentioned judgments along with other relevant provisions. It has been held that the verifier/attestator of the bail bond is not bound by the terms of the bond. Section 514 Cr.P.C. Includes the words "persons bound by such bond". The order of the Court granting bail, apparently, was to the effect that the original accused and her two sureties were bound to pay the amount. The bail bond was to be submitted to the satisfaction of the Court. The verification/attestation of the bail bond was only for the purpose of satisfying the Court that the sureties were reliable and persons of financial means; It was never the direction of the Court to bound down the verifier as third surety besides the accused and her sureties. The acceptance of the bond by the Court shows that the Court was satisfied with the verification/attestation by the present petitioner. The words in the bond, binding the verifier/attestator are beyond the orders of the Court and do not bring the verifier/attestator within the purview of the words "persons bound by such bond". Such a verifier could be prosecuted otherwise if it was ever proved that the verification by itself was incorrect, which is not the case in hand.
6. In the circumstances of this case, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Mardan has exceeded his authority under the provisions of section 514, Cr.P.C. His impugned order dated 23-11-2006 oversteps the legal limits, and is, therefore, not maintainable. I, therefore, accept the present Criminal Revision and set aside the impugned order to the extent of binding the present petitioner to deposit the amount of Rs.25,000 as confiscated amount of the bail bond.