CHENNAI: The practice of lower courts requiring money deposits while granting bail or advance bail to the accused, was criticised by the Madras High Court on February 5. While granting bail, the court was entitled to stipulate conditions at its discretion. But these had to be reasonable and judicious, and not arbitrary.
In fact, no provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) stated cash deposit as a condition for granting bail, Justice S Vaidyanathan said.
While granting advance bail to Amaldoss and nine others, who feared arrest for two criminal cases before the Patteeswaran police station, Thanjavur district, the local Principal Sessions Judge (PSJ) had directed the accused to deposit Rs 15,000 each at the Judicial Magistrate Court, Kumbakonam on October 14 last year.
Contending that they were farm labourers and that they could not raise such a huge sum, they moved the High Court with the present petition.