TITLE: Shankarbhai Dhirubhai Vaghela v State of Gujarat
Decided On-: August 11, 2023
10603 of 2023
CORAM: Hon’ble Justice Mr. A.S Supehia and Mr. M.R Mengdey
INTRODUCTION-
The current petition is intended to challenge the detention order issued by the respondent – the detaining authority – while acting within the scope of the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985, section 3(1), by holding the petitioner-detenu, as that term is defined in section 2(c) of the Act.
FACTS OF THE CASE
Detenu stated that the detaining authority’s order of detention should be reversed and set aside because it was based solely on the filing of two FIRs, one for offences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 323, 337, 504, 509, and 427 of the Penal Code, 1860, and Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act, and the other for offences under Sections 323, 406, 420, 504, and By themselves, sections 25(1-A) and 25(1-B) of the Arms Act cannot bring the detenu case within the ambit of the definition under section 2(c) of the Act.
Furthermore, it was argued that it was impossible to conclude from the facts of the case that the detenu’s involvement in criminal cases had disrupted society’s social fabric, posing a threat to the very continuation of people’s daily lives as they know it, or that the detenu’s registration of criminal cases had thrown the entire social system into disarray, making it difficult for people to go about their normal, everyday lives. Additionally, it is claimed that the detaining authority is unaware that the petitioner has been released on bail for all of his or her offences.
COURT ANALYSIS AND DECISION
The respondent-State supported the detention order made by the authority and argued that enough information and evidence discovered during the course of the investigation and provided to the detainee indicate that the detainee is accustomed to engaging in the activity as defined by Section 2(c) of the Act. Taking into account the circumstances of the case, the detaining authority made the right decision and the detention order deserves to be upheld, according to the respondent-State. Primarily, it is determined that the subjective satisfaction reached by the detaining authority cannot be said to be legal, valid, and in accordance with law, inasmuch as the offences alleged in the FIR/s cannot have any bearing on the public order as required under the Act and other relevant penal laws are sufficient enough to take care, In order to bring the detenu within the ambit of section 2(c) of the Act, it is not possible to say that the situation or the accusations made against the detenu are germane. In those circumstances, it cannot be said that the detainee is a person who would fall within the meaning of section 2(c) of the Act unless and until the material is there to make out a case that the person has become a threat and menace to the Society so as to disturb the whole tempo of the society and that all social apparatus goes in peril disturbing public order at the instance of such person.
In view of above, we are inclined to allow this petition, because simpliciter registration of FIR/s by itself cannot have any nexus with the breach of maintenance of public order and the authority cannot have recourse under the Act and no other relevant and cogent material exists for invoking power under section 3 (1) of the Act
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Written by- Steffi Desousa
