The Meghalaya High Court has relaxed the bail condition for BJP leader Bernard N. Marak by allowing him to travel extensively within the State for election programmes.
It may be mentioned that the Sessions Judge, Tura in two orders passed on December 2, 2022 in Crl. Misc. No. 05 of 2022 and Crl. Misc. No. 06 of 2022 granted bail to Marak on certain conditions.
However, Marak moved the High Court seeking reprieve from a bail condition which stipulates that he should not leave the jurisdiction of the Sessions Court, Tura.
In a petition filed before the High Court, Marak stated that he is a member of a political party and is also one of the candidates in the ensuing elections to the State Legislative Assembly, for which he is required to travel extensively within the State and the said condition pointed out has bound him only to West Garo Hills.
The bench of Justice Wanlura Diengdoh in an order passed today, accepted the argument of Marak on the ground that his liberty should not be curtailed by a certain geographical area, if his attendance at the trial could be secured.
“Accordingly, on this premise, the said bail condition is hereby relaxed. However, in case the petitioner is to travel outside the State of Meghalaya, prior permission of the court is required. Accordingly, the said bail condition cited above is hereby relaxed, to the extent indicated,” Justice Diengdoh said.
