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2023 Supreme(Guj) 252

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
SONIA GOKANI, MAUNA M. BHATT, JJ.
Sureshbhai Mangaji Padhiyar - Applicant
Versus
State Of Gujarat & Others – Respondents
R/Special Criminal Application No. 3156 Of 2020
Decided On : 24-02-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Applicant : Mr. N.M. Kapadia.

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 21 - Code of Criminal Procedure - Sections 151, 41 (a) to (d), 57, 60A - Petitioner filed for a writ of habeas corpus for his son’s illegal confinement at the Meghaninagar police station, where custodial violence was alleged; police failed to present the corpus before a Magistrate within 24 hours, violating procedural law. (Paras 1, 2, 17, 18, 24, 36)

(B) Right to Personal Liberty - The Constitution secures the right to personal liberty; unlawful detention without due process warrants judicial scrutiny and potential compensation under public law. (Paras 9, 21, 24)

(C) Legal Obligations of Police - The police must adhere strictly to the procedural rights of arrested persons, ensuring they are presented before a Magistrate. Violations by law enforcement justify compensation for wrongful detention. (Paras 26-27, 34)

(D) Police Misconduct - The case established the requirement that police conduct must not infringe upon individual rights to liberty, particularly during health crises, reinforcing accountability and the necessity of adhering to legal procedures. (Paras 29, 30, 36)

Facts of the case:
The applicant's son was illegally detained beyond 24 hours under the pretext of a Covid-19 test, raising concerns over police brutality and wrongful confinement. The student had prior allegations but was not presented before a Magistrate as required. (Paras 2, 26, 28, 34)

Findings of Court:
The Court highlighted flaws in the police's defense and supported the need for strict adherence to the law regarding arrests made during the pandemic. A direction for accountability was issued concerning the actions of the police officer involved. (Paras 36, 39)

Issues: Whether the corpus was illegally detained without being presented before the Magistrate and the appropriate course of action for compensation or consequences for police misconduct.

Ratio Decidendi: The court reiterated the necessity for the police to follow lawful procedures and the liability of the state for infringement of personal liberty, stating such violations merit examination for offering compensation to victims of unlawful detention, highlighting the impact of adherence to law during emergencies. (Paras 24, 26, 34)

Result: The petition was partly rejected; however, the police's violation of law was acknowledged, leading to a directive for explanation from the police authority on the issue.

Table of Content
1. habeas corpus petition for illegal detention. (Para 1 , 2)
2. petitioner seeks justice for unlawful custody. (Para 3 , 4)
3. court analyzes legality of police detention practices. (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 33)
4. court emphasizes legal standards for arrests. (Para 36)

JUDGMENT :

(Sonia Gokani, J.)

1. This is a petition preferred under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the applicant, who seeks issuance writ of habeas corpus or another appropriate writ for obtaining the custody of his son Falgun, who is illegally confined and detained by respondent No.5, who happened to be the Police Inspector of Meghaninagar police station.

2. Facts in nutshell are presented in the following factual background:

2.1 Brother of the corpus was arrested and detained in the custody of Meghaninagar police station as a preventive measure by the police officer as per section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The corpus was picked up from his vicinity on 29.06.2020 and was made to stay in the lock up for the entire night. It is alleged that he was subjected to police brutality and custodial violence. On the next day i.e. on 30.06.2020 he was presented before the learned Magistrate and was bailed out with other individuals, who were detained. The complaint was made to the learned Magistrate about the custodial violence and the torture committed by the police personnel of Meghaninagar. On hearing the grievance, the learned Magistrate had directed the Chief Medical Officer of Civil Hospital to get them examined.

2.2 Instead of taking the corpus and others to the Civil Hospital, the police officers of Meghaninagar police station took them back to the Meghaninagar police station where they were again beaten with lathi and rods. They were specifically instructed not to reveal these bruises and marks to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) by taking their clothes off and they were deterred not to reveal the names of the police officers, who had beaten them.

2.3 The brother of the corpus revealed his injuries to the CMO. Learning this aspect, the police officers had again beaten him up. This inhuman act had resulted into calling the police control room. However, no complaint was lodged and mere statement of the brother of the petitioner was recorded.

2.4 The police officer of Meghaninagar police station, with an intention to suppress the say of the petitioner against the custodial violence, visited the house of the petitioner on 01.07.2020 and had taken away the corpus along with them. He was detained in the police custody for the entire night and on the next day when the petitioner had again come to Meghaninagar police station, he was being informed that the corpus is detained and is quarantined in an isolated place.

2.5 To the shock and surprise of the petitioner, it was informed that First Information Report was lodged against the corpus and other relatives of the petitioner under sections 143,147, 336 and 118 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , the First Information Report bearing First Information Report No.11191033201407 of 2020. Learning about the wrongful detention of the corpus, the mother of the corpus had sent a representation dated 02.07.2020 addressed to respondent No.1 for releasing the corpus.

2.6 Another representation addressed to respondent no.3 dated 03.07.2020, and a representation dated 04.07.2020 was sent to respondent No.5 for releasing his son for wrongful confinement and detention.

2.7 Corpus being a boy, aged 21 years, was detained in the Meghaninagar police station at the time of pandemic. The petitioner suspected the conduct of the police officer of the police station being quite suspicious, anticipated the corpus to be exposed to the deadly Covid-19 virus to create tyrant effect on the petitioner and his family. The corpus, as urged by the petitioner, cannot be detained without being produced before the Magistrate, tha

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