Karnataka High Court
Judges : R.Gururajan,N.Ananda
FARIDA WIFE OF ISTIAQ AHMED - Appellant
Versus
AJAI KUMAR SINGH, COMMISSIONER OF POLICE - Respondent
Writ Petition (HC) 72 Of 2006
Decided On : 01/05/2007
Detention Orders - Goonda Act - Section 3 (1) - WP (HC) No. 64 of 2006, WP (HC) No. 65 of 2006, WP (HC) No. 40 of 2006, WP (HC) No. 72 of 2006 - Summary of Acts and Sections: Section 3 (1) of the Goonda Act - The court found that the detention orders in each case were issued for a period of three months by the Commissioner of Police or the District Magistrate, which exceeded their authority under Section 3 of the Goonda Act. The court emphasized the need for the State Government to approve the detention orders within 12 days, failing which the orders would lose their validity. The court cited the Supreme Court's judgment in Makhan Singh Tarsikka v. State of Punjab and Navalshankar Ishwarlal Dave and Anr. v. State Of Gujarat and Ors. to support its decision.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners challenged the detention orders of their relatives under the Goonda Act, contending violations of Article 22 of the Constitution and statutory provisions of the Act.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the detention orders exceeded the authority granted under Section 3 of the Goonda Act, as they were issued for a period of three months by the Commissioner of Police or the District Magistrate, instead of being approved by the State Government within 12 days. The court set aside the detention orders in each case, without expressing any opinion on pending criminal proceedings against the petitioners.
Ratio Decidendi: The detention orders were set aside as they exceeded the authority granted under Section 3 of the Goonda Act, and the State Government failed to approve the orders within 12 days, as required by the Act.
Final Decision: The court set aside the detention orders in each case, without expressing any opinion on pending criminal proceedings against the petitioners. The Government was free to pass fresh orders, if available in law and in accordance with law. No costs were awarded.
( 2 ) PETITIONER Chandrahas is the brother of Narasimha son of Rangappa, the detenu. Detenu is detained in Central Prison, Gulbarga pursuant to an order of detention purported to have been passed by the District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner, Davanagere District under Section 3 (1) of the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act, 1985 (for short, 'goondas Act' ). Order of detention issued in Kannada is filed at Annexure-B to the petition. According to the petitioner, grounds of detention were furnished both in Kannada and English in terms of Annexures C and D. He would say that the detenu was furnished with relied upon documents in a spiral bound book of 127 pages. Order of detention is passed under Section 3 of the Goonda Act and the same requires to be approved by the second respondent. Approval order is not passed according to the petitioner. Petitioner in the grounds would say that the first respondent is a person empowered to exercise powers under Section 3 (1) of the Goonda Act. He would further say that his order is required to be approved by the second respondent within 12 days. Approval order was neither issued nor was it served on the detenu. It is further stated that two orders were issued, one in English and another in Kannada. Two orders could not have been issued by the Government. This has created confusion in the mind of the detenu. It is contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Goonda Act and is in violation of Article 22 (5) of the Constitution of India. According to the petitioner, two orders do not say that one is translation of the other. The index to the compilation of the document furnished also refer to the existence of two orders of detention. Detenu has a right to make an effective representation and that right is rendered impossible on the facts of this case. Petitioner also says that there are violations of not only under Article 22 of the Constitution but also the statutory provisions of Goonda Act.
( 3 ) ACCORDING to the petitioner, order of detention is also vitiated for the reason that the bail application and the detailed order granting bail in various cases relied upon which was required to have been necessarily placed and considered by the Detaining Authority has not been so done. Failure to place those materials before the detaining authority and failure to consider the same would render the order of detention unconstitutional in addition to being illegal. Petitioner in these circumstances seeks for a writ in the nature of declaration.
( 4 ) ON receipt of notice, statement of objections is filed by the Government. In the statement of objections, it is stated that the detenu has involved in activities which are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order; and that he was creating chaos in the society. The detaining authority passed an order of detention on the basis of report submitted by the Superintendent of Police on 5. 5. 2006. The said report would indicate that the detenu started his career as Matka Chit Writer and became a full-fledged Matka Bookie and organised Matka Gambling in the city. 11 cases of organised Matka gambling were registered against the detenu and in some cases he has pleaded guilty before courts. Despite several cases registered against him, he never stopped illegal activities in the matter. He was getting bail from courts. In order to protect law and order in the society, application of mind to the report of the Superintendent of Police, and
Navalshankar Ishwarlal Dave and Anr. v. State of Gujarat and Ors.
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