Reviewed case brief

Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab

AIR 1980 SC 1632

The Constitution Bench decision defining the scope and nature of anticipatory bail, holding it can be granted without time limit and without condition of surrender.

anticipatory-bailS.482-BNSSpersonal-libertyarticle-21sem-5
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1980
Subjects
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Reviewed
2026-06-29

Rule established

Anticipatory bail under S.438 CrPC (now S.482 BNSS) can be granted without time limit. Courts should not impose condition of surrender; that would negate the purpose of anticipatory bail.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

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        Editorial source

        AIR

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.