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Madras High Court· 07 September 2026

Is a decision on bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act governed by the role prima facie attributed, the period of incarceration and the tempo of trial?

M.Mohammed Ali Jinnah v. Union of india Rep by its
CRL A.865/2025 · 2026:MHC:3757 · CRL A No. 865 of 2025
Coram: Justice Anita Sumanth · Justice Sunder Mohan
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Answer

A decision on bail under Section 43D(5) is governed by the role prima facie attributed, the period of incarceration and the tempo of trial.

Yes. A decision on bail under Section 43D(5) is governed by the role prima facie attributed, the period of incarceration and the tempo of trial. Pending the reference to the Chief Justice of India, all those parameters are to be set in the context of the protection guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. (¶33)

Headnote

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — ss.19, 43D(5) — Indian Penal Code, 1860 — s.212 — Constitution of India — Art.21 — Bail — Harbouring — Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — s.19 — Harbouring — Shelter and concealment of identity — Held: Knowingly enabling proclaimed offenders to stay, camouflaging their true identities and arranging their phone connections prima facie amounts to harbouring. (¶45) Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — s.19 — Persons not named in the Schedule — Charge not premature — Held further: That the persons harboured are still under trial and are not named in the Schedule does not defeat the charge, since that would defeat the purpose of s.43D(5). (¶46, 47) Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — s.43D(5) — Constitution of India — Art.21 — Bail — Three parameters pending reference — Held further: Pending the reference, bail rests on the role prima facie attributed, the period of incarceration and the tempo of trial, read with Art.21. (¶33) Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 — s.43D(5) — Length of incarceration — No minimum yardstick — Held further: The length of the period served is one factor only and no minimum period is a yardstick. Appeal dismissed. (¶49, 53)

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In the Court's own words
Paragraph 33Pending the reference to Hon’ble The Chief Justice of India, a decision regarding the grant of bail in cases attracting Section 43D(5) would thus, as on date, rest on (i) the role of the accused in the prosecution’s case as outlined by the prima facie evidence placed before the Court, (ii) the period of incarceration as on date of consideration and (iii) the tempo with which the trial is proceeding and likely time for its completion. All the aforesaid parameters 27 Foot Note Supra (20) are to be set in the context of the protection guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Acts & Sections
s.19 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967s.43D(5) Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967s.212 Indian Penal Code, 1860Art.21 Constitution of India

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Also decided in this judgment
Does enabling proclaimed offenders to stay and concealing their true identities amount to harbouring under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act?Does Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act apply although the persons harboured are still under trial and are not named in the Schedule?Is the length of incarceration one factor only, with no minimum period serving as a yardstick for granting bail?
Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Madras High Court. Corrections