ISHWARBHAI BABUBHAI PATEL Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY way of this petition, the petitioner detenu, has challenged the order dated 6. 2. 2007 passed by the Commissioner of Police, Surat City, in exercise of powers under section 3 (1) of the Gujarat Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act, 1985 (for short, 'the Act') declaring the petitioner to be a "bootlegger" within the meaning of the PASA Act. In pursuance of the said impugned order the petitioner is detained in jail.

(2.) FROM the grounds of detention, it appears that there is only one offence being CR. I. No. 50 of 2007 registered against the petitioner under sections 66 B, 65 E etc. under the Bombay Prohibition Act wherein huge quantity of country liquor/raw materials was found from his possession. On the basis of registration of these cases, the detaining authority held that the present detenu, was carrying activities of selling country liquor which is harmful to the health of the public. It is held by the detaining authority that as he is indulged in illegal activities, it is required to restrain him from carrying out further illegal activities i. e. selling of country liquor.

(3.) THE representation made by the detenu was also not considered and was rejected by the detaining authority. Except the aforesaid cases under the provisions of Prohibition Act, no other offence was registered against the present petitioner-detenu. In the opinion of this court, his activities are, by no stretch of reasoning, said to be disturbing the public order or even the public health suffers and such a subjective satisfaction is reached by the detaining authority. It is seen from the grounds that a general statement that has been made by the detaining authority that consuming liquor is injurious to health and except that, nothing is there on record showing that the activities of the petitioner are affecting the public order. In fact, a perusal of the order passed by the detaining authority shows that the grounds which are mentioned in the order are in reference to the situation of 'law and order' and not 'public order'. Therefore, on this ground, the subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority is vitiated on account of non-application of mind the impugned order deserves to be quashed and set aside.