The applicant Sri Mahmood Butt, I.A.S. was the Administrator of the Nagar Mahapalika, Allahabad in the month of July 1969. On 29-7-1969 a number of person belonging to the Nagar Mahapalika staff went to the Sangam area, for realizing boat tax and for seizure of the boats. The Station Officer, Daraganj who was present in that area advised the Mahapalika authorities not to make recoveries of tax, or to seize boats as 29th July happened to be a bathing day (Purnamashi). Next morning i.e. on 30-7-1969 at about 9.30 a.m. the Nagar Mahapalika staff as well as the present applicant Sri M. Butt went to the Sangam area for the recovery of boat tax and seizure of boats if necessary. The Station Officer, Daraganj was given prior information by the Nagar Mahapalika that his assistance might be required on that day. It appears that the boatmen refused to pay the tax and they also resisted the attempt made by the Nagar Mahapalika staff to seize their boats. Brick-batting was resorted to by the boatmen which injured four persons belonging to Nagar Mahapalika party namely Sri M. Butt, Administrator, Sri K. N. Joshi, Licensing Officer and two other employees Sri Onkar Nath Sharma and Sri Kris