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2022 Supreme(J&K) 589

JAMMU AND KASHMIR HIGH COURT BENCH AT JAMMU
Rajnesh Oswal, J.
Salman Saleem Mir – Appellant
Versus
Union Territory of Jammu And Kashmir & Ors. – Respondents
WP(Crl) No. 5 of 2022
Decided On : 16-09-2022

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Azhar Usman Khan, Advocate, for the Appellant; Mr. Eishan Dadhichi, GA, for the Respondent

The necessity to place all material, including orders of granting bail, before the detaining authority to enable them to derive subjective satisfaction for the detention.

Headnote:

Detention Order - Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act - Section 8(3) - Summary: The court quashed the detention order issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 on the grounds that the activities of the petitioner did not fall within the purview of 'activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order' as defined under section 8 of the Act. The court emphasized the distinction between 'law and order' and 'public order' and held that the allegations against the petitioner did not disturb public order but may amount to a law and order issue. The court also highlighted the importance of subjective satisfaction and the necessity to place all material, including orders of granting bail, before the detaining authority to enable them to derive subjective satisfaction for the detention. The court referred to various judgments to support its decision.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed a petition to quash the detention order issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, citing insufficient material supplied, non-consideration of bail, and lack of subjective satisfaction by the detaining authority.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the activities of the petitioner did not fall within the purview of 'activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order' as defined under section 8 of the Act. The court emphasized the distinction between 'law and order' and 'public order' and held that the allegations against the petitioner did not disturb public order but may amount to a law and order issue. The court also highlighted the necessity to place all material, including orders of granting bail, before the detaining authority to enable them to derive subjective satisfaction for the detention.

Issues: Insufficient material supplied, non-consideration of bail, lack of subjective satisfaction by the detaining authority.

Ratio Decidendi: The detention order was quashed as the activities of the petitioner did not disturb public order but may amount to a law and order issue. The court emphasized the necessity to place all material, including orders of granting bail, before the detaining authority to enable them to derive subjective satisfaction for the detention.

Final Decision: The court allowed the petition and quashed the detention order issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978.

JUDGMENT

1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner through his father for quashing the detention order No. 01/DM/K/PSA of 2021 dated 24.11.2021 issued by the respondent No. 2 under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (for short the Act) on the following grounds:

    (a) that the detaining authority while passing the detention order has not supplied to the petitioner the sufficient material i.e. statement of the witnesses recorded under section 161 Cr.P.C, list of the witnesses, statements made before Judicial Magistrate and other relevant material relied upon by respondent Nos. 2 and 3.

    (b) that the respondent No. 2 while passing the order of detention has not considered the important fact that the petitioner has already been bailed out by the competent court and has not committed any crime, which is heinous in nature.

    (c) That the grounds of detention in the dossier submitted by respondent No. 3 has been simply reproduced and there is no subjective satisfaction arrived at on the part of the respondent No. 2 that the detention of the petitioner is necessary.

    2. Though the respondent Nos. 2 and 3 have filed the counter affidavits separately, but the counter affidavits have been filed on similar lines. It is stated that the petitioner is a notorious person having criminal mind set and is involved in FIR No. 02/2020 under sections 4/25 Indian Arms Act and 323 IPC, FIR No. 239/2021 under section 3/25 Indian Arms Act and FIR No. 67/2021 under sections 341, 323, 382, 504 and 506 IPC of Police Station, Kishtwar and on the basis of criminal and anti social activities, respondent No. 3 submitted a dossier and the same was examined by respondent No. 2 and after application of mind, detention order under section 8 of the Act was issued. The petitioner was also informed that the petitioner can approach the Advisory Board either himself or through advocate for preferring an appeal against the said order. The petitioner was also informed that he can make representation against the order of detention to respondent No. 2 as also to the Government. On 24.11.2021, the respondent No. 2 wrote a communication to the Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department and sought the approval/confirmation of the detention order. The Principal Secretary confirmed and approved the detention order vide Government order dated 27.12.2021. Subsequently, the order of detention after the expiry of initial period of three months was also extended. It is stated that the detention order was executed by Inspector Dilraj Singh. Petitioner was handed over the documents and the grounds of detention were read over and explained to the detenue/petitioner in English and Urdu. In acknowledgement thereof, the petitioner also signed the execution report. In nutshell, the stance of the respondents is that all the procedural safeguards have been followed by the respondents while passing and executing the detention order, as such, there is no illegality in detaining the petitioner.

    3. Mr. Azhar Usman Khan, learned counsel for the petitioner vehemently argued that the grounds of detention do not fall within the purview of 'activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order' as defined under section 8 of the Act, as such, there is complete non application of mind on the part of the respondent No. 2 in issuing the detention order. He further argued that the respondent No. 2 has not taken into consideration the fact that the petitioner was enlarged on bail in all three aforesaid FIRs, as the respondent No. 3 never furnished the orders granting bail to the respondent No. 2 so as to enable the respondent No. 2 to derive subjective satisfaction that there is necessity to detain the petitioner under the Act.

    4. On the other hand, Mr. Eishan Dadhichi, learned GA vehemently argued that all the constitutional as well as procedural safeguards have been meticulously followed by the respondents. Since the activities of the petitioner were prejudicial to the maintenan

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