Default bail ruling confined to the reference before the larger Bench, with other pending issues left open.

The Supreme Court clarified paragraph 51 of its earlier judgment so the ruling on default bail under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is confined to the specific reference before the larger Bench. The corrected paragraph records that the impugned High Court order was upheld on that basis, while any other pending issues in the connected appeals remain for consideration by an appropriate Bench. The corrected statement of paragraph 51 was directed to be treated as part of the earlier judgment.

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Issues: Whether paragraph 51 of the earlier judgment required clarification so as to confine the ruling to the question referred to the larger Bench and preserve consideration of other pending issues by an appropriate Bench.

Analysis: The order records that paragraph 51 of the earlier judgment be read with the stated correction. The corrected paragraph makes clear that the finding on default bail under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was rendered in relation to the reference before the Court, that the impugned High Court order was upheld on that basis, and that any other pending issues in the appeals would be addressed by an appropriate Bench.

Conclusion: The clarification was granted and the corrected statement of paragraph 51 was directed to be treated as part of the earlier judgment.

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