INTELLIGENCE BUREAU EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These writ petitions filed under Article 32 of the Constitution relate to functioning of the Intelligence Bureau Employees' Association (hereinafter referred to as "the petitioner Association") , a society registered under the societies Registration Act, 1860. The petitioner Association is claimed to be an association of the employees working in the Intelligence Bureau (for short "ib") of the government of India. It was registered as a society on 23/6/1979. On 3/5/1980 the Joint Director of IB issued a circular memorandum wherein it was stated that the government has now made it clear that in a security organisation like the IB there is no scope for an employees' association and, in this context it was mentioned that attempts were being made to vitiate the generally satisfactory personnel relationship which has existed within the organisation and that communications addressed to senior officers, not excluding the Head of the organisation, were often couched in intemperate language verging on abuse and that this displayed highly indisciplined conduct not befitting members of an organisation like the IB. In the said circular it was, however, stated that the grievances of the employees would be the basic concern of all members of the organisation though the primary responsibility for this would vest in the administration and a special responsibility would also be cast on the staff councils which would have to function in a representative manner and form an essential adjunct of the Grievances Redressal machinery of the organisation. By this writ petition the petitioners are seeking to challenge the validity of the said circular memorandum on the ground that it is violative of the fundamental rights of the petitioners guaranteed under Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.

(2.) During the pendency of the writ petition. Article 33 of the constitution has been amended by the Constitution (Fiftieth Amendment) act, 1984 which received the assent of the President of India on 11/9/1984. As a result of the said amendment Article 33 has been substituted by the following provision:

(3.) Under the unamended Article 33 the rights conferred by Part III could be restricted or abrogated by a law made by Parliament in respect of members of the Armed Forces and members of Forces charged with maintenance of public order. As a result of the fiftieth amendment the scope of the provision has been enlarged and persons employed in any bureau or other organisation established by the State for the purpose of intelligence or counter-intelligence, which could include the IB, and persons employed in or in connection with the telecommunication system set up for the purpose of any force, bureau or organisation referred to in the preceding clauses have been brought within the ambit of Article 33. The said amendment in the constitution was followed by the Intelligence Organisations (Restriction of rights) Act, 1985, Act No. 58 of 1985, which received the assent of the president of India on 6/9/1985. Section 3 of the said Act makes the following provisions: