Report No. 268
9. Inquiry about sufficiency of bonds-
Considerable diversity of practice exists in carrying out the provisions of the law in regard to the taking of bonds from accused persons and their sureties, and the result of the diversity is not only to case Police officers to be employed in needless inquiries, but also to keep the accused person in custody pending the result of the inquiry into the sufficiency or otherwise of the bail offered. Sub-section (3) of Section 499 [Section 499 of new Code] now enables the Court to accept affidavits for the purpose of determining whether the sureties are sufficient or not. At the same time, however, it is the duty of Magistrates to satisfy themselves that the sureties are, in point of substance, persons of whom it may reasonably be presumed that they can, if necessary, satisfy the terms of the bail-bond.
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