Jharkhand High Court Mandates Immediate Release of Advocate's Vehicle
In a significant legal development, the Jharkhand High Court issued a firm directive on Friday, ordering the immediate release of a vehicle belonging to advocate Manoj Tandon. The court set a strict deadline of 4:30 pm for city Superintendent of Police Paras Rana and Doranda police station Officer-in-Charge Deepika Prasad to ensure compliance.
Court Hearing and Judicial Observations
The bench of Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary presided over the hearing of a petition filed by Tandon, seeking the release of his vehicle. The vehicle had been seized by police following a minor accident at Rajendra Chowk in Ranchi on February 17. Justice Choudhary emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that courts would soon close for the Holi holidays, and any delay would only stall the release process.
During the proceedings, the court observed that the accident occurred at a very busy junction at 10 am, making it unlikely that Tandon was driving at high speed as he was on his way to court. Importantly, the court highlighted that no injuries were reported in the incident, further questioning the prolonged seizure of the vehicle.
Legal Proceedings and State's Response
Justice Choudhary directed both the city SP and the OC of Doranda police station to appear in person at 11:30 am for the hearing. Additionally, the Director General of Police (DGP) was instructed to join the proceedings through online mode. The officers complied with the order and appeared before the court.
Representing the state, the government counsel pleaded for an adjournment, citing that a petition against the vehicle's release had been filed before the Supreme Court and was scheduled for a hearing at 1 pm. The High Court then postponed the matter to 2:15 pm. Later, the government counsel again requested a 10-day adjournment, which the court firmly rejected.
Allegations of Personal Vendetta
Justice Choudhary pointed out that the High Court had initially ordered the release of Tandon's vehicle on February 19. Subsequently, a judicial magistrate's court also directed the police to release the vehicle. However, these orders were not complied with, leading the High Court to suggest a possible personal vendetta against advocate Tandon by the authorities.
The court's observations underscored concerns about procedural delays and potential misuse of power, emphasizing the need for timely adherence to judicial directives.
Outcome and Compliance
Following the High Court's order, the Doranda police station released Tandon's vehicle later in the day. As part of the conditions set by the court, Tandon will provide an undertaking to produce the vehicle whenever required for the ongoing investigation of the case. This ensures that the release does not impede the legal process while addressing the immediate grievance of the vehicle owner.
This case highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding citizens' rights against administrative delays and underscores the importance of prompt compliance with court orders to maintain public trust in the legal system.
