KARAM ELAHEE CHAUHAN, J.-An appeal being Criminal Appeal No. 1308/80 filed by the petitioner against his conviction under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 11 of 1947 and sections 468 and 471, P. P. C. Is , pending in the High Court. In that appeal he applied for bail by means of Criminal Miscellaneous No. 1/80 but without any success as the same was dismissed by the High Court on 7-12-1980. The order of the High Court is short one and reads as follows: - "The submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner relate to the appreciation of evidence which cannot be dealt with at this stage. This application is dismissed in limine.
Without prejudice to the merits of the case, I feel that the sentence imposed on the applicant is rather severe. The main appeal could be set down for hearing by the end of 1981."
2. The petitioner has come up in a petition for special leave to appeal against the same to this Court.
3. We have heard the learned counsel. In our opinion since the High Court has in its discretionary jurisdiction not thought it fit to grant bail to the petitioner, we see no justification to interfere with that discretion particularly when the appeal of the petitioner has been directed to be heard if we can say so, out of turn-by the end of year 1981. The order seems to maintain the balance of justice and cannot be taken exception to.
4. The result is that this petition has no merit and is dismissed.