4 min readNew DelhiMar 6, 2026 06:16 PM ISTThe Himachal Pradesh High Court granted bail to a student arrested under the NDPS Act in a charas possession case. (Image generated using AI)Noting that a petitioner is a “student”, and his continued detention in prison would affect his “studies” adversely, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has granted bail to a student who was arrested in connection with the recovery of charas.Justice Rakesh Kainthla was dealing with a plea of a student seeking bail in a case registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.“The petitioner is a student, and his continued detention in prison would affect his studies adversely,” the court said on March 5. Justice Rakesh Kainthla noted that the bail cannot be denied as punishment without trial. (Image enhanced using AI)The order added that, being the first offender, he is entitled to reform himself, and his continued detention in prison would adversely affect the chances of his reformation, as he would be in contact with hardened criminals in jail.Also Read | ‘Don’t fight ego battles’: Calcutta High Court rejects IIM student’s plea for promotion despite medical conditionHighlighting that his home is in the town, the court said that the petitioner has roots in society, and there is no chance of his absconding.Case of 356.280 grams of charas possessionThe petitioner was arrested on January 8, 2026, following a police raid on a paying guest accommodation in Summer Hill, Shimla.Acting on secret information that narcotics were being sold, police searched the premises and recovered the contraband from a room occupied by the petitioner and three others.The petitioner sought bail on the grounds that he was a student with no criminal antecedents and that the charas was brought to the room by a co-accused.Also Read | ‘Careers at stake’: Delhi High Court orders CBSE to fix errors as students assigned wrong subjects for Class 12 boardsThis claim was notably supported by the police’s own status report, which stated that co-accussed had admitted to bringing the drugs—a statement confirmed by the other occupants.Sunil Dutt Gautam, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner is innocent and that he was falsely implicated.He further submitted that the petitioner is a student, and his continued detention in prison would adversely affect his studies.Lokender Kutlehria, Additional Advocate General for the respondent/State submitted that the petitioner was present at the time of recovery of contraband.He stated that the charas is adversely affecting the young generation, and no leniency should be shown to the petitioner.‘Bail can’t be denied as punishment without trial’The petitioner was found in possession of 356.280 grams of charas, which is an intermediate quantity. Therefore, the rigours of Section 37 (offences to be cognisable and non-bailable) of the NDPS Act do not apply to the present case.The status report also mentions that no other FIR is registered against the petitioner.The petitioner does not have criminal antecedents, which would disentitle him from the concession of bail.It was submitted that the charas is adversely affecting the young generation, and no leniency should be shown to the petitioner. This submission will not help the state.The bail cannot be denied as punishment without trial, and if the prosecution can prove its case, the petitioner will suffer the consequences as per the law.In view of the specific recital in the status report that charas belongs toco-accussed, the petitioner cannot be denied bail.The petitioner has asserted that he is a permanent resident of the state of Himachal Pradesh, and he has deep roots in the society. This was not stated to be incorrect.Also Read | Why Calcutta High Court refused to let Class 12 student sit for CBSE 2026 Board exams despite medical pleaJagriti Rai works with The Indian Express, where she writes from the vital intersection of law, gender, and society. Working on a dedicated legal desk, she focuses on translating complex legal frameworks into relatable narratives, exploring how the judiciary and legislative shifts empower and shape the consciousness of citizens in their daily lives. Expertise Socio-Legal Specialization: Jagriti brings a critical, human-centric perspective to modern social debates. Her work focuses on how legal developments impact gender rights, marginalized communities, and individual liberties. Diverse Editorial Background: With over 4 years of experience in digital and mainstream media, she has developed a versatile reporting style. Her previous tenures at high-traffic platforms like The Lallantop and Dainik Bhaskar provided her with deep insights into the information needs of a diverse Indian audience. Academic Foundations: Post-Graduate in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s premier media training institute. Master of Arts in Ancient History from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), providing her with the historical and cultural context necessary to analyze long-standing social structures and legal evolutions. ... Read More © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd