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2024 Supreme(Guj) 764

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
A.Y. Kogje, Samir J. Dave, JJ.
Kalubhai Jumabhai Lakha Dafer - Appellant
Vs.
State Of Gujarat & Ors. - Respondent
Special Civil Application No. 21135 of 2023
Decided On : 12-04-2024

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Chintan S Popat
For the Respondent: Mr. Yuvraj Brahmbhatt, AGP

Headnote:

Habeas Corpus - Challenge to order of detention under PASA - Arms Act, GP Act - 25(1-B)(A), 135 - The court found that the offences alleged did not have any bearing on public order as required under the Act. The court referred to the distinction between 'law and order' and 'public order' as laid down in Pushker Mukherjee v/s. State of West Bengal [AIR 1970 SC 852]. The court also emphasized that the detaining authority did not consider the option of cancelling bail, which vitiated the subjective satisfaction. The court highlighted the delay in passing the order of detention and the need for the detaining authority to justify its action.

Fact of the Case:

The petition challenged the order of detention under PASA based on offences registered under the Arms Act and GP Act. The detenue argued that the offences did not amount to breach of public order and that there was no relevant material connecting the alleged activities with public order.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority was not legal and valid, as the alleged offences did not have any bearing on public order. The court also noted the delay in passing the order of detention and the failure of the detaining authority to consider the option of cancelling bail.

Issues: The issues revolved around the legality of the order of detention, the relevance of the alleged offences to public order, and the failure of the detaining authority to consider the option of cancelling bail.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the distinction between 'law and order' and 'public order' as laid down in Pushker Mukherjee v/s. State of West Bengal [AIR 1970 SC 852]. The court also highlighted the need for the detaining authority to justify its action and the adverse effect of delay in passing the order of detention.

Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the impugned order of detention was quashed and set aside. The detenue was ordered to be set at liberty forthwith if not required in any other case.

JUDGMENT :

A.Y. Kogje, J.

1. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed for following relief:-

    “B Allow this Special Civil Application by issuing a writ of habeas corpus or any other appropriate writ, order, direction quashing and setting aside the impugned order of detention dated 05.10.2023 passed by the Respondent No.2 under DM/DTN/PASA/11/2023.”

2. Thus, essentially, the challenge is to the order of detention dated 05.10.2023 passed by the District Magistrate, Gir Somnath, respondent No.2 herein, by which the petitioner has been detained as a “dangerous person” based on two offences registered against him, details of which are as under:-

Sr. No.

Name of Police Station

CR No. and date

Sections

Date of bail order

1.

Talala Police Station

11186007230301 of 2023 dated 21.05.2023

25(1-B)(A) of the Arms Act and 135 of the GP Act

-------

2.

Talala Police Station

11186007230057 of 2023 dated 01.02.2023

25(1-B)(1- A) of the Arms Act and 135 of the GP Act

-------

3. Learned advocate for the detenue submits that the order of detention impugned in this petition deserves to be quashed and set aside on the ground of registration of the offences under the Arms Act by itself cannot bring the case of the detenue within the purview of definition under section 2(c) of the Act. Further, learned advocate for the detenue submits that illegal activity likely to be carried out or alleged to have been carried out, as alleged, cannot have any nexus or bearing with the maintenance of public order and at the most, it can be said to be breach of law and order. Further, except statement of witnesses, registration of above FIR/s and Panchnama drawn in pursuance of the investigation, no other relevant and cogent material is on record connecting alleged anti- social activity of the detenue with breach of public order.

3.1 It is submitted that the offences are pertaining alleged use of Arms against private individuals and will therefore not amounting to breach of public order as no where in the grounds of detention, it is coming out that the sporadic act of the petitioner has caused disturbance to public order. In any case, option was always available to the detaining authority to resort to cancellation of bail of the petitioner.

4. As against this, learned AGP submitted that the detaining authority had sufficient material on the record to pass the order of detention, particularly reference to the same is made by the detaining authority in the very order of detention where the detaining authority has referred to the fact that it was the petitioner who had himself confessed to commission of offences. Not only that, there are other supporting evidences also which the detaining authority has taken into consideration like drawing of panchnama. The two FIRs registered against the petitioner are under the Arms Act, thereby attracting the ingredients of “dangerous person”.

5. Having heard learned advocates for the parties and considering the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that the subjective satisfaction arrived at by the detaining authority cannot be said to be legal, valid and in accordance with law, inasmuch as the offences alleged in the FIR/s cannot have any bearing on the public order as required under the Act and other relevant penal laws are sufficient enough to take care of the situation and that the allegations as have been levelled against the detenue cannot be said to be germane for the purpose of bringing the detenue within the meaning of section 2(c) of the Act. Unless and until, the material is there to make out a case that the person has become a threat and menace to the Society so as to disturb the whole tempo of the society and that all social apparatus is in peril disturbing public order at the instance of such person, it cannot be said that the detenue is a person within the meaning of section 2(c) of the Act. Except general statements, there is no material on rec

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