Bail Granted by Magistrate Related to Accused Vitiated by Bias-in-Law; Order Cancelled with Interim Relief Granted: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has delivered a significant ruling emphasizing judicial impartiality, holding that even a distant familial relationship between a Judge or Magistrate and an accused can vitiate a judicial order if it creates a real likelihood of bias. Justice Sumeet Goel quashed a regular bail order granted by a Judicial Magistrate after finding that the Magistrate and the accused were distantly related, thereby undermining public confidence…