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1967 Supreme(Online)(Gau) 14

TRIPURA HIGH COURT
Shyamal Kumar Sen, J
Shri Biren Dutta, Shri Benu Sen, Shri Dinesh Deb Barma, Bhanu Ghosh, Jogabrata Sen Gupta, Shri Deba Brata Chakraborty – Appellant
Versus
The Administrator, Union Territory of Tripura – Respondent
Writ Petition No. 10 of 1965



Detention under national emergency provisions must satisfy statutory grounds, even without explicit mention in the order; legality upheld.

Headnote:(A) Defence of India Rules, 1962 - Rule 30(1)(b) - Constitution of India - Article 226 - The petitioners sought release from detention during a national emergency, claiming improper detention without valid orders. The Administrator's order is upheld, determining that all necessary conditions for detention were met. (Paras 1, 5, 32)

(B) Emergency Proclamation - The declaration of emergency regarding national security permits detention as per the laid statutory framework. The powers conferred under the ordinance were exercised correctly as per the requisite legal standards. (Paras 4, 12, 18)

Facts of the case:
The petitioners were detained under Rule 30 of the Defence of India Rules during a proclamation of national emergency, challenging their detention's legality.

Findings of Court:
The court upheld the Administrator's order of detention, rejecting claims of illegality and mala fides, confirming that procedures were duly followed.

Issues: The main issue was whether the detaining authority provided valid grounds for detention under the applicable rules.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the absence of specific mention of clause (b) does not invalidate detention if the substance of the order satisfies the requirements.

Result: Petitions dismissed.

Table of Content
1. emergency detention under defence of india ordinance. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)
2. arguments against the legality of detention. (Para 8 , 9 , 10 , 11)
3. assessment of administrative powers and sufficiency of orders. (Para 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 30)
4. final ruling on the legality and justification of the detention. (Para 32)

1. The six petitioners (1. Shri Biren Dutta, 2. Shri Benu Sen, 3. Shri Dinesh Deb Barma, 4. Bhanu Ghosh, 5. Jogabrata Sen Gupta and 6. Shri Deba Brata Chakraborty), who are the detenus, and who have been detained by the Administrator, the Union Territory of Tripura under R. 30(1) (b) of the Defence of India Rules, 1962 , read with sub-rule (11) of R.2 of the aforesaid Rules made by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred on it by S. 3 of the Defence of India Ordinance (No. 4 of 1962), have applied separately to this Court under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India for the issue of a writ in the nature of 'Habeas Corpus' for their release.

2. In all the 6 habeas corpus petitions the questions of law and facts involved are similar and I shall therefore briefly refer to the facts in Petition No. 10 of 1965 for the purposes of dealing with the points raised on behalf of the petitioners.

3. Before dealing with the points which have been raised for decision in these petitions, it is necessary to give a brief resume of facts which gave rise to these petitions, and the issue of the proclamation under Art.359 (1) of the Constitution.

4. On October 26, 1962, the President having been satisfied that a grave national emergency exists, whereby the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by the Chinese aggression, issued a Proclamation declaring the Emergency, under Art.352 of the Constitution. That declaration of emergency was laid before both Houses of Parliament on November 8, 1962, and was approved by the Rajya Sabha on November 13, 1962, and by the Lok Sabha on November 14, 1962. After the Proclamation of Emergency as Parliament was not in session and as the President was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action for exercise of the powers conferred by cl. (1) of Art. 123 of the Constitution he promulgated the Defence of India Ordinance (IV of 1962) on the same date - October 26, 1962. By S. 3 of the Ordinance, the Central Government has been empowered to make rules as appear to be necessary or expedient for securing the defence of India and Civil defence, the public safety, the maintenance of public order or the efficient conduct of military operations or for maintaining supplies and services essential to the life of the community, by notification in the official gazette.
In exercise of those powers, the Central Government promulgated the Defence of India Rules, 1962 , by notification in the Official Gazette Extraordinary dated November 5, 1962. The relevant portion of R. 30 is as follows :
"The Central Government or the State Government, if it is satisfied with respect to any particular person that with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India and civil defence, the public safety, the maintenance of public order, India's relations with foreign powers, the maintenance of peaceful conditions in any part of India or the efficient conduct of military operations, it is necessary so to do, may make an order :
 xxxx xxxx xxxx
(b) directing that he be detained;
 xxxx xxxx xxxx
During the operation of the Proclamation of Emergency, the President issued, on November 3, 1962, the following Order suspending the right to move any Court for the enforcement of rights conferred by Arts. 21 and 22 of the Constitution :
"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Art.359 of the Constitution, the President hereby declares that the right of any person to move any Court for the enforcement of the rights conferred by Art.21 and Art.22 of the Constitu





































































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