Gujarat High Court Grants MLA Seven-Day Temporary Bail for Assembly Session

A convicted sitting MLA's request for temporary release to attend a Gujarat Legislative Assembly session

Chaitar Vasava sought release from 7 to 21 September 2026 for the Assembly sitting scheduled from 8 to 10 September. He had been sentenced to seven years for offences arising from assault and extortion of forest officials in a forest-encroachment matter. A prior request to suspend sentence had failed.

Issue and applicable law

The central question was a convicted sitting MLA's request for temporary release to attend a Gujarat Legislative Assembly session.

The order was a narrowly conditioned temporary release and did not disturb the conviction or decide the pending criminal appeal.

Court's reasoning

The Court held that limited temporary bail was justified by his representative office and invitation to attend the session. Its principal reason was that he had remained in judicial custody since June 2026, but the requested fifteen days exceeded what the Court considered necessary.

Decision and practical effect

Seven days' bail was granted on a ₹15,000 personal bond, with confinement to Gandhinagar, no public address or media appearance, compulsory surrender and no extension.

The ruling is significant because it clarifies how the stated legal standard should be applied to comparable disputes without extending the decision beyond the facts reported by the source.

Case details

• Case: Chaitarbhai Damjibhai Vasava v. State of Gujarat and Another
• Court: Gujarat High Court
• Case number or citation: Criminal Misc. Application (Temporary Bail) No. 3 of 2026 in Criminal Appeal No. 1751 of 2026
• Judges: Justice Vimal K. Vyas
• Source: https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/gujarat-high-court/gujarat-high-court-temporary-bail-aap-mla-chaitar-vasava-assembly-session-549347