1950 Supreme(All) 62
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Raghubar Dayal and P. L. Bhargava, JJ.
RAM NAGINA RAI - Appellant
Versus
DISTRICT MAGISTRATE - Respondents
Criminal Misc. 205 Of 1950
Decided On : 03/13/1950
S.N.DIVEDI
Headnote:
Section 491 - Detention under U.P. Act IV of 1947 - Illegal detention due to unauthorized exercise of power by District Magistrate
Fact of the Case:
Ram Nagina Rai was detained under U.P. Act IV of 1947, and subsequently ordered to enter into a bond and furnish sureties by the District Magistrate of Ghazipur. The District Magistrate's order was based on a delegated authority from the Provincial Government.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the District Magistrate's order under Section 3, Sub-section (3) and Section 123a of the Act was illegal as it exceeded his jurisdiction, leading to the illegal detention of the applicant.
Issues: The main issue was the legality of the detention under Section 128a of the Criminal P.C. due to the unauthorized exercise of power by the District Magistrate.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the District Magistrate could only exercise delegated powers within his jurisdiction and that the orders beyond his jurisdiction were illegal, leading to the illegal detention of the applicant.
Final Decision: The court ordered the immediate release of Ram Nagina Rai from custody due to the illegal detention under Section 128a of the Criminal P.C.
( 2 ) AT the time of the passing of the order by the District Magistrate, Ghazipur, on 15th November 1949 Ram Nagina Rai was detained in the Central Prison, Naini, outside the district of Ghazipur.
( 3 ) AN order under Section 3, Sub-section (1), Clauses (d) and (f) could be passed by the provincial Government alone under the provisions of the Act itself. It was on 13th April 1948 that the Provincial Government delegated its powers to act under Section 3, Sub-section (1), clauses. (d) and (f) to the District Magistrates in these provinces. It was in view of such delegated authority that the District Magistrate of Ghazipur issued the various orders against ram Nagina Rai on 15th November 1949. This delegation gave the right to District Magistrates to exercise these powers within their jurisdiction. It is clear, therefore, that the District magistrate, Ghazipur, could pass the order under Section 3, Sub-section (1), Clauses (d) and (f)against parsons within his district. It is contended for the State that the District Magistrate could have communicated his order to persons outside the district, informing them as to how they were to behave within his jurisdiction and that, therefore, the orders under Section 3 of the Act were not illegal. Nothing need be said on this point so far as the communication of the order under section 3, Sub-section (1), Clauses (d) and (f) was concerned, as at the moment it is not material to consider it in that connection. The order under Section 3, Sub-section (3) was an order which the District Magistrate, Ghazipur, could not have passed against a person who was not within his jurisdiction. He could give orders to furnish bonds and security to persons within his jurisdiction. If a person is not within his jurisdiction, no such order can be passed by him under the authority delegated to him by the Government under Section 11 of the Act. The order under Section 123a followed the failure of the applicant to furnish the security required under Section 3, Sub-section (3 ). When the order under Section 3, Sub-section (3) was not a legal order, -the District magistrate, Ghazipur, could not have passed the order under, Section 123a, Criminal P. C. , ordering the detention of the applicant in jail for the failure of furnishing the required security. In this view of the matter, we are of opinion that the detention of the applicant under Section 128a, criminal P. C. , is illegal.
( 4 ) WE, therefore, order that he be released from custody forthwith.
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