Overview

• On August 1, Additional Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna nullified the July 15 order by Judicial Magistrate Saurabh Goyal that forced four undertrials to stand with raised hands
• the court held that failing to furnish bail bonds does not amount to contempt under IPC Section 228
• it found that the magistrate did not provide any show-cause hearing before imposing the punishment, breaching procedural safeguards
• the judgment underscored that Article 21 guarantees personal liberty and dignity and permits restrictions only through procedures established by law
• the ruling noted the magistrate’s use of pre-July 2024 criminal statutes was incorrect and left the underlying 2018 land grab dispute at the pre-charge evidence stage