Gujarat High Court
Sanjay Vaghjibhai Desai vs State Of Gujarat on 5 May, 2023
Bench: A.S. Supehia
C/SCA/5506/2023 ORDER DATED: 05/05/2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 5506 of 2023
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SANJAY VAGHJIBHAI DESAI
Versus
STATE OF GUJARAT
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Appearance:
MR HR PRAJAPATI(674) for the Petitioner(s) No. 1
MS NISHKA H PRAJAPATI(10717) for the Petitioner(s) No. 1
for the Respondent(s) No. 2,3
MR ADITYASINH JADEJA, AGP for the Respondent(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.S. SUPEHIA
and
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DIVYESH A. JOSHI
Date : 05/05/2023
ORAL ORDER
(PER : HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.S. SUPEHIA)
1. Pursuant to the orders passed by this Court, the State Government
has made its efforts and has framed a policy vide Circular dated
03.05.2023 regulating the process of passing the detention orders under
Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985. The same is
tendered to this Court. A perusal of the policy dated 03.05.2023 reveals
that the same extensively addresses the concern/issues, which are raised
before this Court. However, learned advocate Mr.Prajapati has further
suggested three facets, which are required to be added in the aforesaid
policy in light of the judgment of the Supreme Court. The same are
incorporated as under:-
"(1) નામદાર સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટ દ્વારા State of Manipur versus
Buyamayum Abdul Hanan @ Anand (2022 (15) Scale 340:
JT 2022 (10) SC 264) ના કે સમાાં પ્રસ્થાપિત કરવામાાં આવેલ પસદ્ાાંત નીચે
મુજબ છે :-
C/SCA/5506/2023 ORDER DATED: 05/05/2023
" 21. Thus, the legal position has been settled by this Court that
the right to make representation is a fundamental right of the
detenu under Article 22(5) of the Constitution and supply of the
illegible copy of documents which has been relied upon by the
detaining authority indeed has deprived him in making an
effective representation and denial thereof will hold the order of
detention illegal and not in accordance with the procedure
contemplated under law."
આમ અર્કાયત ના હુ કમ સાથે જે િણ દસ્તાવેજોની નકલ અર્કાયતીને
આિવામાાં આવે તે સરળતાથી વાાંચી શકાય હોય તેવા હોવા જોઈએ તે
વાતનુાં ખાસ ધ્યાન રાખવાનુાં રહેશ.ે
(2) અર્કાયતી સત્તા િાસે િાસા કાયદા હેઠળ દરખાસ્ત આવે એર્લે તરત જ આવી
દરખાસ્ત પવચારણા હેઠળ લઈ યોગ્ય હુ કમ કરવો જોઈએ વાજબી કારણ વગર
આવી દરખાસ્ત િેપ્ડાં ગ રાખવી નહીાં. નામદાર સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટ દ્વારા Sushanta
Kumar Banik versus State of Tripura And Others (AIR
2022 SC 4715) ના કે સમાાં નીચે મુજબનો પસદ્ાાંત પ્રસ્થાપિત કરવામાાં આવેલ
છે:
"14. In view of the above object of the preventive detention, it
becomes very imperative on the part of the detaining authority as
well as the executing authorities to remain vigilant and keep their
eyes skinned but not to turn a blind eye in passing the detention
order at the earliest from the date of the proposal and executing
the detention order because any indifferent attitude on the part of
the detaining authority or executing authority would defeat the
very purpose of the preventive action and turn the detention order
as a dead letter and frustrate the entire proceedings. "
(3) િાસા નો હુ કમ કરતી વખતે જો અર્કાયતી કોઈ કે સ માાં જેલ માાં છે કે જામીન
ઉિર છૂર્ે લ છે તે બાબત નો ઉલ્લેખ અર્કાયતના હુ કમમાાં કરવાનો રહેશ.ે જે
C/SCA/5506/2023 ORDER DATED: 05/05/2023
પકસ્સામાાં અર્કાયતી જેલમાાં હોય તો કયા કારણસર આવો અર્કાઈ જેલ માાં છે અને
તેની જામીન ઉિર છૂર્વાની સાંભાવનાઓ કે ર્લી તે પવશે યોગ્ય ચકાસણી કયાટ બાદ
જ અર્કાયતનો હુ કમ કરવાનો રહેશ.ે અર્કાયતના હુ કમ માાં આ પવશે નો સ્િષ્ટ
ઉલ્લેખ કરવાનો રહેશ.ે જો અર્કાયતી જામીન ઉિર હોય તો તેની જામીન અરજી
અને જામીન હુ કમ પવચારણામાાં લેવાના રહેશે અને ત્યારબાદ યોગ્ય કારણો જણાય
તો જ અર્કાયત નો હુ કમ કરવાનો રહેશ.ે આવા કારણોનો ઉલ્લેખ અર્કાયતના
હુ કમમાાં કરવો જરૂરી છે. અર્કાયતના કારણો સાથે જો અર્કાયતી જામીન ઉિર
હોય તો તેની જામીન અરજી અને જામીન હુ કમ અર્કાયતી ને આિવાના રહેશ.ે "
2. Thus, in addition to the instructions which the State Government
have promulgated vide policy/Circular dated 03.05.2023, the
aforementioned instructions shall also be considered while passing the
orders of detention. An addendum to the aforesaid Circular dated
03.05.2023 shall be issued by the State Government or in the alternative it
will also be open for the State to issue fresh Circular/consolidated
guidelines incorporating the aforementioned instructions along with the
Circular dated 03.05.2023.
3. It is also noticed by us that the Circular/policy is blissfully silent
with regard to the accountability fixed on the authority in case the same
are violated while passing the detention order. Hence, we direct the State
Government to issue necessary circular in the form of administrative
instructions to all the concerned authorities to strictly comply with the
aforesaid guidelines. It is further clarified that in case it is found or
established that the guidelines are flagrantly violated and are not
followed, this Court will view the same very seriously, since the freedom
of a person is supreme and is recognized and embedded in Article 21 of
C/SCA/5506/2023 ORDER DATED: 05/05/2023
the Constitution of India. A person cannot be detained and his freedom
cannot be curtailed or restricted by adopting a procedure de hors the rule
of law. While taking cognizance of such violation, this Court will not be
hesitant in issuing necessary orders/directions for taking necessary action
against the erring officer or the authority.
4. So far as the merits of the matter are concerned, learned AGP has
submitted that as on today no order of detention is passed. It goes without
saying that as and when the detention order is passed against the
petitioner, the respondent authority shall follow the guidelines dated
03.05.2023 along with the guidelines, which are incorporated in the
present order.
5. The State Government is directed to do the needful, as directed by
this Court and issue supplementary or consolidated guidelines within a
period of 12 weeks. The same shall also be published on its website for
easy access for the public at large.
6. With this observation, the present petition stands disposed of.
7. Registry shall communicate this order to the Department of Home
for necessary compliance.
(A. S. SUPEHIA, J)
(DIVYESH A. JOSHI,J)
ABHISHEK/PC-12
