“Reasonable Grounds” to Grant Bail Pending Trial in NDPS Cases Cannot Be Construed as ‘Proof’ under the BSA: Jammu & Kashmir High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has delivered an important judgment on the interpretation of reasonable grounds while deciding bail applications under the NDPS Act 1985. The Court held that reasonable grounds must be stronger than suspicion but need not amount to full proof, ensuring a balanced and fair approach to pre-trial liberty. Judicial Interpretation of “Reasonable Grounds” A bench of Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani explained that equating…