WP(Crl)/293/2022 of MOHD SALEEM MIR Vs UNION TERRITORY OF J AND K AND ORS. (HOME DEPARTMENT) on 30 December 2022

JUDGMENT

1) By the instant petition, the petitioner has challenged the veracity and legality of the detention order No.112/DMS/PSA/2022 dated 09.04.2022, issued by District Magistrate, Shopian (for brevity “detaining authority”). In terms of the aforesaid order, Mohd. Saleem Mir (for short “detenue”) has been placed under preventive detention in order to prevent him from acting in any manner which is prejudicial to the security of the UT/Country.

2) The petitioner has contended that the Detaining Authority has passed the impugned detention order mechanically without application of mind, inasmuch as the allegations mentioned in the grounds of detention have no nexus with the detenue and that the same have been fabricated by the police in order to justify its illegal action of detaining the detenue. It has been contended that the grounds of detention are vague, non-existent on which no prudent man can make a representation against such allegations. It has been further contended that the Statutory procedural safeguards have not been complied with in the instant case, inasmuch as whole of the material which formed basis of the impugned detention order has not been supplied to the petitioner.

3) Upon being put to notice, the respondents appeared through their counsel and filed their reply affidavit, wherein they have disputed the averments made in the petition and insisted that the activities of detenue are highly prejudicial to the security of the State. It is pleaded that the detention order and grounds of detention along with the material relied upon by the detaining authority were handed over to the detenue and the same were read over and explained to him; that the grounds urged by the petitioner are legally misconceived, factually untenable and without any merit and that the detenue was informed that he can make a representation to the government as well as to the detaining authority against his detention. It is further contented in the reply affidavit that all statutory requirements and constitutional guarantees have been fulfilled and complied with by the detaining authority. That the order has been issued validly and legally. The respondents have produced the detention record to lend support to the stand taken in the counter affidavit.

4) I have heard learned counsel for parties and perused the record.

5) Learned counsel for the petitioner, while seeking quashment of the impugned order, projected various grounds but his main thrust during the course of arguments was on the ground that the detenue was not provided whole of the material to enable him to make an effective representation against his detention.

6) From the perusal of the detention record, the ground of projected for impugning the detention order appears to have substance. A perusal of the detention reveals that the material is stated to have been received by the petitioner on 16.04.2022. Report of the Executing Officer in this regard forms part of the detention record, a perusal whereof reveals that it bears the signature of the petitioner and according to it, copies of detention warrant and grounds of detention have been furnished to the petitioner.

7) It is clear from the execution report, which forms part of the detention record, that copy of the police dossier has not at all been supplied to the detenue. If we have a look at the grounds of detention, it bears reference to. FIR No.301/2021 for offences under Section 307 IPC, 7/27 I. A. Act and Sections 16, 18, 19, 20 of ULA(P) Act of Police Station, Shopian. It was incumbent upon respondents to furnish not only the copy of the FIR but also the statements of witnesses recorded during investigation of the said FIR and other material on the basis of which petitioner’s involvement in the said FIR is shown. The documents, it appears from the detention record, have not been supplied to the petitioner.

8) Thus, contention of the petitioner that whole of the material relied upon by the detaining authority, while framing the grounds of detention has not been supplied to him, appears to be well-founded. Obviously, the petitioner has been hampered by non-supply of these vital documents in making an effective representation before the Advisory Board, as a result whereof his case has been considered by the Advisory Board in the absence of his effective representation, as is clear from the detention record. Thus, vital safeguards against arbitrary use of law of preventive detention have been observed in breach by the respondents in this case rendering the impugned order of detention unsustainable in law.

9) It needs no emphasis that the detenue cannot be expected to make an effective and purposeful representation which is his constitutional right guaranteed under Article 22(5) of the Constitution of India, unless and until the material, on which the detention is based, is supplied to the detenue. The failure on the part of detaining authority to supply the material renders the detention order illegal and unsustainable. While holding so, I am fortified by the judgments rendered in Sophia Ghulam Mohd. Bham V. State of Maharashtra and others (AIR 1999 SC 3051) and, Thahira Haris Etc. Etc. V. Government of Karnataka & Ors. (AIR 2009 SC 2184).

10) Viewed thus, the petition is allowed and the impugned order of detention is quashed. The detenue is directed to be released from the preventive custody forthwith provided he is not required in connection with any other case.

11) The detention record be returned to the learned counsel for the respondents.

(Sanjay Dhar) Judge

SRINAGAR 30.12.2022“Bhat Altaf, PS”Whether the order is speaking: Whether the order is reportable:

Yes/NoYes/No