Suspension of conviction is exceptional, but sentence may still be stayed pending appeal where circumstances justify conditional bail.

Suspension of conviction is an exceptional remedy, available only where refusal would cause irreversible prejudice or manifest injustice; the Court found no such exceptional circumstances here, noting the conviction arose from the coal block matter and did not appear prima facie unsustainable, so the conviction stayed operative despite the claimed Companies Act disqualification. By contrast, the sentence was suspended and bail granted pending appeal, having regard to the appellant's age, family circumstances, the co-convict's earlier relief, and the absence of misuse of liberty, subject to conditions securing his appearance and conduct.

---

---

Issues: (i) Whether the appellant was entitled to suspension of the conviction so as to avoid the disqualification arising from his conviction under the Companies Act, and (ii) whether the sentence deserved to be suspended and bail granted pending appeal.

Issue (i): Whether the appellant was entitled to suspension of the conviction so as to avoid the disqualification arising from his conviction under the Companies Act.

Analysis: Suspension of conviction is an exceptional relief and depends on the facts of the case, especially whether refusal to suspend would cause injustice or irreversible consequences. The Court examined the appellant's reliance on the alleged disqualification from office and the claimed prejudice to his corporate position, but found that the conviction arose from his role in the coal block matter, where the evidence on record did not make the conviction prima facie unsustainable. The Court also noted the broader public interest involved in coal block allocation cases and held that the appellant's case did not fall within the category of exceptional circumstances warranting stay of conviction.

Conclusion: The request for suspension of conviction was rejected and was against the appellant.

Issue (ii): Whether the sentence deserved to be suspended and bail granted pending appeal.

Analysis: While declining to stay the conviction, the Court considered the pending appeal, the appellant's age, his family circumstances, the earlier suspension of sentence granted to the co-convict, and the fact that the appellant had not misused liberty during the proceedings. On that footing, the Court found it to suspend the sentence and impose conditions to secure his appearance and conduct during the appeal.

Conclusion: The sentence was suspended and bail was granted, subject to conditions, in favour of the appellant.

Final Conclusion: The conviction continued to operate, but the custodial sentence was suspended, resulting in a partial grant of relief pending the final hearing of the appeal.

Ratio Decidendi: Suspension of conviction is granted only in exceptional cases where refusal would cause irreversible prejudice, and while considering such relief the Court may weigh the nature of the offence, the public interest involved, and the statutory disqualification that would follow from the conviction.

---