Punjab & Haryana High Court Cancels Bail Granted by Judge to Her Distant Relative

The Punjab & Haryana High Court set aside a Magistrate’s order granting bail after finding a distant familial relationship between the Magistrate and the accused, holding that it created a “real likelihood of bias.”

Justice Sumeet Goel ruled that even perceived bias undermines judicial neutrality and vitiates proceedings, applying the nemo judex rule.

The Court granted interim protection to the accused, stressing that public confidence in the justice system depends on decisions being free from any appearance of partiality.

[Akash Walia v. State of Haryana and Anr.]