Yatindra Verma vs State of M. P. - 2021 Supreme(MP) 339

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2021 Supreme(MP) 339

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Sujoy Paul and Shailendra Shukla,JJ.
Yatindra Verma v. State of M. P. & Others
Writ Petition No. 9792 of 2021 (Indore);
Decided on 24.6.2021

Advocates:
R. S. Chhabra f or petitioner; Pushyamitra Bhargav,
Additional Advocate General for respondents/State.

Headnote:
(1) Constitution of India -- Art. 22 - -National Security Act, 1980 -- S.3 -- preventive detention -- power of preventive detention is duly recognized in our Constitutional scheme. (1976) 2 SCC 521 and (1975) 4 SCC 47 followed. [Para 15]
(2) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 (3) -- detention order -- mentioning of reason -- not mandated -- mention is made in order to maintain fairness -- incorrect reason mentioned but existence of actual/real reasons and circumstances cannot be doubted -- order cannot be interfered with. [Para 20]
(3) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 (3) -- detention order -- mentioning of reason -- apart from anticipated threat to communal harmony, another reason mentioned -- "commit act pre judicial to the maintenance of public order" -- is relevant basis for issuance of order of delegation -- interference declined. [Para 20]
(4) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 (3) -- "a District Magistrate or a Commissioner of Police" -- use of word "a" cannot be divorced from remaining part of provision -- "any area" may be entire State -- in that situation, not necessary to issue "area specific" and "authority specific" order. [Para 20]
(5) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 (3) and 3 (2) -- powers delegated to District Magistrate -- sub-section (3) contains all eventualities -- including preventing person from actingin any manner prejudicial to maintenance of supplies and services essential to community -- expression "public order" is wide enough -- includes black --marketing of essential drug -- no interference warranted. [Paras 21 & 22]
(6) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 -- detention order -- non-application of mind -- "communal threat" mentioned in mechanical manner -- despite recording finding that corpus was already in custody, repeatedly mentioned that he is "absconding" -- this is non-application of mind or acting in mechanical manner. 1975 (Supp.) SCC 1, (1989) 1 SCC 374 and (1986) 4 SCC followed. [Paras 26 & 27]
(7) National Security Act, 1980 -- S.3 -- detention order -- person already arrested -- can still bedetained -- there should be compelling reasons justifying detention. (2012) 7 SCC 181 followed. W.P. No. 25986 of 2018 relied on. [Para 28]
(8) National Security Act, 1980 -- S.3 -- detention order -- allegation of black-marketing a single oxyflow meter -- there was no material to believe that corpus will again indulge in similar activity of black-marketing. (2012) 7 SCC 181 followed. (1991) 1 SCC 500 referred to. [Para 30]
(9) National Security Act, 1980 -- S. 3 -- detention order -- right of representation by detenu -- non-mentioning of such right in detention order -- effect -- detenu had valuable right to make representation to detaining authority -- denial of this opportunity vitiates impugned order. (1995) 4 SCC 51 followed. 2021 (2) JLJ 389 (FB), W.P. No. 5866 of 2015 decided on 4.6.2015 relied on. [Para 36]
¼1½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 22 & jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3 & fuokjd fujks/k & gekjh lkafo/kkfud ;kstuk esa fuokjd fujks/k dh 'kfDr dks lE;d~ ekU;rk ÁkIr gSA ¼1976½ 2 ,l lh lh 521 rFkk ¼1975½ 4 ,l lh lh 47 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 15½
¼2½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3¼3½ & fujks/k vkns'k & dkj.k dk mYys[k & vkKkfir ugha & fu"i{krk cuk, j[kus ds fy, mYys[k fd;k tkrk gS & xyr dkj.k mfYyf[kr] rFkkfi okLrfod@vlyh dkj.kksa vkSj ifjfLFkfr;ksa dh fo|ekurk ij lansg ugha fd;k tk ldrk & vkns'k esa gLr{ksi ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 20½
¼3½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3¼3½ & fujks/k vkns'k & dkj.k dk mYys[k & lkaÁnkf;d lkeatL; dks [krjs ds vfrfjDr] ,d vU; dkj.k mfYyf[kr ^^yksd O;oLFkk cuk, j[kus ij Áfrdwy ÁHkko Mkyus okyk ÑR; djuk & ÁR;k;kstu vkns'k tkjh fd, tkus ds fy, lqlaxr vk/kkj gS & gLr{ksi ls bUdkjA ¼iSjk 20½
¼4½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3¼3½ & fdlh ftyk eftLVªsV ;k fdlh iqfyl vk;qä & 'kCn ^^fdlh dk mi;ksx mica/k ds 'ks"k Hkkx ls foPNsfnr ugha fd;k tk ldrk & ^^fdlh {ks= laiw.kZ jkT; gks ldrk gS & ml ifjfLFkfr esa ^^fofufnZ"V {ks= vkSj ^^fofufnZ"V Ákf/kdkjh ds fy, vkns'k tkjh djuk vko';d ughaA ¼iSjk 20½
¼5½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3¼3½ rFkk 3¼2½ & ftyk eftLVªsV dks 'kfDr ÁR;k;ksftr & mi/kkjk ¼3½ esa lHkh laHkkork,a varfoZ"V & leqnk; ds fy, vko';d Ánk;ksa vkSj lsokvksa dks cuk, j[kus ij Áfrdwy ÁHkko Mkyus okyh jhfr ls dk;Z djus ls O;fDr dks fuokfjr djuk lfEefyr & vfHkO;fDr ^^yksd O;oLFkk i;kZIrr% foLr`r & vfuok;Z vkS"k/k dh pksjcktkjh lfEefyr & gLr{ksi okaNuh; ughaA ¼iSjk 21 ,oa 22½
¼6½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3 & fujks/k vkns'k & euksfu;ksx dk vHkko & ^^lkaÁnkf;d [krjk ;a=or~ jhfr esa mfYyf[kr & ;g fu"d"kZ vfHkfyf[kr djus ds ckotwn fd canh igys ls vfHkj{kk esa gS] ckj&ckj mfYyf[kr fd og ^^Qjkj gS & euksfu;ksx dk vHkko ;a=or~ jhfr esa dk;Z djuk gSA 1975 ¼lIyhŒ½ ,l lh lh 1] ¼1989½ 1 ,l lh lh 374 rFkk ¼1986½ 4 ,l lh lh vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 26 ,oa 27½
¼7½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3 & fujks/k vkns'k & O;fDr igys ls fxjrkj & fQj Hkh fu#) fd;k tk ldrk gS & fujks/k U;k;ksfpr Bgjkus ds fy, Ácy dkj.k gksuk pkfg,A ¼2012½ 7 ,l lh lh 181 vuqlfjrA fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 25986 lu~ 2018 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 28½
¼8½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3 & fujks/k vkns'k & ek= ,d vkWDlhyks ehVj dh pksjcktkjh dk vfHkdFku & ;g fo'okl djus dk dksbZ dkj.k ugha Fkk fd canh blh Ádkj dh pksjcktkjh dh xfrfof/k iqu% djsxkA ¼2012½ 7 ,l lh lh 181 vuqlfjrA ¼1991½ 1 ,l lh lh 500 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 30½
¼9½ jk"Vªh; lqj{kk vf/kfu;e] 1980 & /kkjk 3 & fujks/k vkns'k & fu#) O;fDr }kjk vH;kosnu fd, tkus dk vf/kdkj & fujks/k vkns'k esa ,sls vf/kdkj ds mYys[k dk vHkko & ÁHkko & fu#) O;fDr dks fujks/k Ákf/kdkjh ds le{k vH;kosnu djus dk ewY;oku vf/kdkj Fkk & bl volj ds capu ls vkf{kIr vkns'k nwf"kr gks x;kA ¼1995½ 4 ,l lh lh 51 vuqlfjrA 2012 ¼2½ ts ,y ts 389 ¼iw.kZ U;k;ihB½] fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 5866 lu~ 2015 fu.khZr fnukad 4-6-2015 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 36½

ORDER

Paul, J. -- 1. This petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution assails the order of State Govt. dated 6.4.2021 published in the gazette Notification issued under section 3(3) of the National Security Act, 1980 (hereinafter called NSA Act) and the detention order dated 10.5.2021.

2. Briefly stated, petitioner submits that he is a social worker and is a member of a political party namely, Indian National Congress. The petitioner held the post of General Secretary and Secretary of the said party in Indore. Petitioner has organized various camps for the welfare of people from time to time. In the pandemic era also, petitioner made various efforts to provide helping hand to suffering people of Indore. The proof of welfare activities undertaken by petitioner are cumulatively filed as Annexure P/2. The petitioner claims that he was vocal in expressing his dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Covid crisis has been handled by the State Government. The petitioner was active in social media and photocopy of many such posts showing petitioner’s criticism or dissent are cumulatively filed as Annexure P/3.

3. It is canvassed that the government of the day was annoyed with petitioner’s comments and, therefore, a false FIR dated 8.5.2021 (Annexure P/4) was lodged against the petitioner for allegedly committing offence under sections 420 and 188 of IPC r/w section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. The petitioner was also arrested on 7.5.2021. The District Magistrate passed the detention order dated 10.5.2021 wherein it is mentioned that petitioner is already in custody. This order dated 10.5.2021 nowhere mentions that petitioner has a right to prefer representation before the District Magistrate.

Notification/Order dated 6.4.2021 :-

4. The legality, validity and propriety of the order dated 6.4.2021 published in the gazette of MP is called in question by contending that this order is passed without application of mind. Reference is made to various similar orders issued from time to time by the government right from 2014. It is contended that main reason for issuance of such order is “threatening to communal harmony”. In the present scenario, there was no such threatening, yet order dated 6.4.2021 was passed which shows total non-application of mind. Section 3(3) of NSA Act provides power of delegation to “a” Magistrate. Since “a” is used in the statute, the government intending to delegate powers under section 3 needs to issue ‘officer specific’ and ‘area specific’ orders. Issuance of general order like 6th April 2021 (Annexure P/1) is outside the purview of the enabling provision. NSA Act gives draconian power which needs to be exercised with utmost care and caution.

5. The power under section 3(2) of NSA Act can be exercised in three eventualities :-

i) for preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of State.

ii) for preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

iii) for preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.

6. If Notification/order dated 6.4.2021 is read carefully, it will be clear that the eventuality (iii) aforesaid has not been mentioned in the said order and, therefore, any power exercised relating to said eventuality was outside the scope of delegation of power.

Non Application of Mind :-

7. Article 22(4) of the Constitution of India was referred, to contend that it gives a constitutional right to the person under detention to prefer effective representation against his detention. The order of detention is served on the petitioner through Station House Officer (SHO) on 13.5.2021 which is evident from Annexure R/3. The factum of detention was not brought to the notice of State Govt. by the learned District Magistrate. Resultantly, the government presumed that petitioner is absconding. Reliance is placed on document dated 14.5.2021 (Annexure R/4) and another doc