The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) BBGTS Murthy, to remain in court until 4 PM after an accused, against whom it had issued a non-bailable warrant, was not produced before the High Court.

A bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal observed that although there appeared to be negligence on the part of the SSP's subordinates, the SSP himself, being the authority responsible for executing the warrant, was duty-bound to ensure the accused's presence before the High Court.

Instead of passing an adverse order against him, the Court directed the SSP to remain in court until 4 PM and to be more careful in future,

For context, the accused was instead produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Meerut, who sent him to judicial custody without directing that he be produced before the High Court.

The Court also took exception to the CJM's conduct and called for administrative action against him.

"This fact shows sheer negligence and indiscipline on the part of C.J.M., Meerut. Thus office is directed to produce this order before the Hon'ble Administrative Judge, Meerut for further action against the CJM, Meerut in administrative side", the Court stated.

The Court was dealing with a bail cancellation application filed by a woman seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the accused on March 18, 2026.

The bail had been granted in a criminal appeal arising from a case registered under Sections 69 and 115(2) BNS, which include an offence relating to sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, and Section 3(2)(5) of the SC-ST Act.

The accused had given an undertaking before the coordinate Bench of the HC that after getting released on bail, he will marry the applicant. However, since he did not comply with the undertaking, the woman sought cancellation of his bail.

Earlier, the accused failed to appear before the Court; therefore, the Court issued a non-bailable warrant on September 28, 2026, directing his production before the High Court. The Court sent the warrant to the SSP, Meerut, for execution.

Appearing personally before the High Court, the SSP explained that he was on leave from September 28 to October 2 and had directed the concerned Station House Officer to execute the warrant immediately after rejoining on October 3.

The warrant was executed, and the accused was produced before the CJM, Meerut, who sent him to judicial custody. The SSP admitted that his subordinates had been negligent and should have moved an application before the CJM to secure the accused's production before the High Court.

Taking into account these submissions, the Court observed thus:

"It appears that there is negligence on the part of subordinates of SSP, Meerut, but as SSP, Meerut was himself the execution authority in non bailable warrant, therefore, it was his duty to ensure the presence of opposite party no.2 before this Court".

It consequently directed the SSP to remain in court until 4 PM and asked him to be more careful in future.

The Court also expressed surprise that the CJM, Meerut, had sent the accused to judicial custody despite knowing that the High Court had issued a non-bailable warrant specifically for his production before it.

Ordering administrative action against him, the Court also cancelled the accused's bail after he appeared before it and refused to marry the woman despite an undertaking given while obtaining bail.

The SSP was directed to take him into custody immediately and produce him before the concerned Magistrate for judicial custody. The applicant was granted liberty to file a fresh bail application.