IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT SRINAGAR
RAJNESH OSWAL, J.
Adil Afzal Lone - Petitioner
Versus
UT of J&K & Another - Respondents
WP(Crl) No. 87 of 2022
Decided On : 21-10-2023
Detention Order - Public Safety Act - [J&K Public Safety Act, Section 13] - The court quashed the detention order on the grounds that the allegations in the grounds of detention were vague and non-existent, the material relied upon by the detaining authority was not provided to the petitioner, and the detaining authority did not consider the petitioner's representation, thereby flouting constitutional and statutory mandates.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner challenged the order of detention issued by the District Magistrate, Srinagar, on the grounds of vagueness of allegations, lack of material provided to the petitioner, and failure to consider the petitioner's representation.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the detention order was based on vague allegations, the material relied upon was not provided to the petitioner, and the detaining authority did not consider the petitioner's representation, leading to a flouting of constitutional and statutory mandates.
Issues: Vagueness of allegations, failure to provide material to the petitioner, failure to consider the petitioner's representation.
Ratio Decidendi: The detention order can be quashed if it is based on vague allegations, the material relied upon is not provided to the petitioner, and the detaining authority fails to consider the petitioner's representation, thereby flouting constitutional and statutory mandates.
Final Decision: The court quashed the detention order and directed the release of the petitioner from preventive detention, provided he is not involved in any other case.
JUDGMENT :
1. The petitioner through the medium of this petition has impugned the order of detention bearing No.DMS/PSA/144/2021 dated 07.03.2022 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar-respondent No.2.
2. The petitioner, who claims to have been arrested on 02.03.2022, has impugned the order of detention, inter-alia, on the following grounds :
(II) That the petitioner was neither arrested or detained in connection with FIR No.40/2021, 01/2022 nor he was in custody in the year 2018 and 2019 pursuant to the directions of the Executive Magistrate.
(III) That as per the grounds of detention, the petitioner was in custody in FIR No.01/2022 and there was every likelihood of his being enlarged on bail but the petitioner had never applied for bail anywhere.
(IV) That the relevant material relied upon by the detaining authority has not been provided to the petitioner which incapacitated him to make an effective representation against his detention.
(V) That the petitioner also submitted a representation to the respondent No.2 but neither the same was considered nor any material was furnished to him as requested in the representation, so that an effective representation could be made before the Government as well as before the Advisory Board.
3. The reply stands filed by the respondents wherein it has been stated that the petitioner was detained pursuant to the detention order No.DMS/PSA/144/2021 dated 07.03.2022 issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar and all the statutory requirements and constitutional safeguards have been fulfilled by the detaining authority. The detaining authority has passed the order of detention after deriving subjective satisfaction in the matter. The grounds of detention, order of detention as well as entire material relied upon by the detaining authority were provided to the petitioner, well within the statutory period as prescribed by Section 13 of the J&K Public Safety Act. The detention warrant was executed by the Executing Officer, ASI Mehraj Din and the petitioner was handed over to the Superintendent District Jail, Baramulla, for lodgement. The contents of the detention order, warrant of detention and the grounds of detention were read over to the petitioner in the language which he fully understood. The petitioner was also informed about his right of making a representation to the detaining authority and to the Government against his detention. The Government vide order dated 11.03.2022 has also approved the impugned detention order and the Advisory Board also has opined that there is sufficient cause for detaining the petitioner, as is evident from the order dated 04.05.2022. It is also submitted by the respondents that the filing of representation by the petitioner is a matter of record.
4. Mr. Wajid Haseeb, learned counsel for the petitioner argued that no material relied upon by the detaining authority was provided to the petitioner and the name of the petitioner nowhere figured in FIR No.40/2021 and also he was never arrested in the said FIR. He further submitted that the petitioner was never arrested in FIR No.01/2022 which has been mentioned in the grounds of detention.
5. Per contra, Mr. Sajad Ashraf, GA, submitted that the detention order was passed after taking into consideration the illegal activities of the petitioner and the procedural requirements as provided under the J&K Public Safety Act and the Constitution of India have been complied with by the respondents while passing the impugned detention order.
6. Heard and perused the detention record produced by learned counsel for the respondents.
7. The perusal of the record reveals that the detention order was issued on the basis of the dossier submitted by SS
The detention order can be quashed if it is based on vague allegations, the material relied upon is not provided to the petitioner, and the detaining authority fails to consider the petitioner's repr....
Preventive detention orders must have a clear nexus with the alleged activities of the detenue, and the detaining authority must demonstrate application of mind in framing the grounds.
Preventive detention must comply with Article 22(5) of the Constitution, requiring clear communication of grounds and supporting material to the detenue for effective representation; failure to do so....
The failure to consider a detainee's representation and reliance on incorrect information invalidates a detention order under preventive detention laws.
Detention orders must comply with Article 22(5) of the Constitution, ensuring supply of grounds and consideration of representation; vagueness in grounds renders detention illegal.
Preventive detention orders must comply with constitutional safeguards, including providing all material for effective representation and considering such representations.
The duty of the detaining authority to inform the detenu of his right to make representation against the detention order is a crucial legal principle established in the judgment.
The detention order must include all relevant facts, and the representation submitted by the petitioner must be considered without delay, as per constitutional obligations and relevant Supreme Court ....
Preventive detention requires clear, specific grounds and adherence to procedural safeguards; vague allegations render detention unconstitutional.
Non-consideration of a representation against preventive detention violates Article 22(5) of the Constitution, rendering the detention order illegal.
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