Suspension of sentence pending appeal; release of appellant on bail
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Summary
While an appeal is pending, the Appellate Court can stay the execution of the sentence and, after recording reasons in writing, release the convicted person on bail or on bond. For offences punishable by death, life, or ten years or more, the court must allow the Public Prosecutor to show cause in writing before releasing on personal bond; the Public Prosecutor may apply to cancel bail. The High Court can exercise the same power for appeals to subordinate courts, and any period spent on bail while the appeal is pending is excluded from a later prison term.
Example
Ravi is convicted of a bailable theft and is on bail when sentenced to two years. He informs the trial court he will appeal; the court releases him on bail to file the appeal and treats the sentence as suspended while he is on bail. If the Appellate Court later keeps him on bail, the time on bail will count as time served if he is ultimately imprisoned.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) Pending any appeal by a convicted person, the Appellate Court may, for reasons to be recorded by it in writing, order that the execution of the sentence or order appealed against be suspended and, also, if he is in confinement, that he be released on bail, or on his own bond or bail bond:
Provided that the Appellate Court shall, before releasing on his own bond or bail bond a convicted person who is convicted of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten years, shall give opportunity to the Public Prosecutor for showing cause in writing against such release:
Provided further that in cases where a convicted person is released on bail it shall be open to the Public Prosecutor to file an application for the cancellation of the bail.
(2) The power conferred by this section on an Appellate Court may be exercised also by the High Court in the case of an appeal by a convicted person to a Court subordinate thereto.
(3) Where the convicted person satisfies the Court by which he is convicted that he intends to present an appeal, the Court shall,-
(i) where such person, being on bail, is sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years; or
(ii) where the offence of which such person has been convicted is a bailable one, and he is on bail, order that the convicted person be released on bail, unless there are special reasons for refusing bail, for such period as will afford sufficient time to present the appeal and obtain the orders of the Appellate Court under sub-section (1); and the sentence of imprisonment shall, so long as he is so released on bail, be deemed to be suspended.
(4) When the appellant is ultimately sentenced to imprisonment for a term or to imprisonment for life, the time during which he is so released shall be excluded in computing the term for which he is so sentenced.
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