JAGAN NATH SATHU Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition was heard on 4-1-1960, and we intimated then that it was being dismissed and reasons for the same will follow later. We proceed to give our reasons now.

(2.) The petitioner was detained by an order dated 4-5-1959, of the Central Government under the provisions of S. 3 of the Preventive Detention Act 1950, (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The grounds of detention dated 7-5-1959, were served on the petitioner. His case was considered by the Advisory Board constituted by the Central Government under S. 8 of the Act. On the report of the Advisory Board the Central Government by its order dated 23-6-1959, directed that the petitioner be detained until 4-5-1960. It is against this order of detention that the present petition under Art. 32 of the Constitution has been filed by the petitioner.

(3.) The grounds of detention contained 5 grounds upon which the Central Government was satisfied that it was necessary to detain the petitioner as he was likely to act further in a manner prejudicial to the security of India and the relations of India with foreign Powers. It was further stated in the grounds of detention that the Central Government considered it against the public interest to disclose to the petitioner any facts or particular as to dates, persons, places, nature of activities and the assistance given by him other than those which had been mentioned in the grounds of detention. The grounds of detention further mentioned that some of the specimen despatches sent by the petitioners and some of the reports appearing in a newspaper published in Pakistan were annexed thereto.