JUDGMENT :

Raja Vijayaraghavan, J.

Under challenge in this Writ Petition is Ext.P1 order dated 22.04.2024, issued by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam Range invoking Section 15 (1)(a) of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 (for short ‘KAAP Act’). As per the said order, the petitioner has been interdicted from entering into the jurisdictional limits of the District Police Chief, Kottayam for a period of nine months. The Advisory Board, before which the petitioner mounted a challenge against Ext.P1 order, proceeded to reduce the period of externment to seven months by Ext.P2 order. The said order is also under challenge in this petition.

2. On account of the involvement of the petitioner in four crimes registered within the limits of various Police Stations of Kottayam District, the respondents arrived at the objective satisfaction that the petitioner satisfied the parameters of being classified as a ‘known rowdy’ as defined under Section 2(p)(iii) of the KAAP Act. The last prejudicial activity committed by the petitioner was Crime No.1530 of 2023, registered at the Mundakayam Police Station on 20.11.2023 for offences inter alia under Sections 294(b)