BALSANGJI LAXMANJI RATHOD Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) LEAVE to amend the date of detention. Heard the learned advocate for the petitioner and the learned AGP for the respondents.

(2.) THE petitioner-detenue has preferred this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing and setting aside the impugned order dated 28. 12. 2007 passed by the respondent No. 2- District Magistrate, Mehsana, in exercise of power under sub-section (2) of Section (3) of the Gujarat Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act, 1985 ("pasa Act" for short) whereby the petitioner has been detained as a bootlegger. In pursuance of the said impugned order, the petitioner is detained in Sub-Jail, Porbandar.

(3.) FROM the grounds of detention, it appears that there are in all nine offences being registered at Mehsana City Police Station under the provisions of Sections 66b, 65ae, 81, and 116b of the Bombay Prohibition Act, wherein various small quantity of foreign liquor were found from the possession of the detenue. On the basis of registration of these cases, the detaining authority held that the present detenue was carrying on activities of selling liquor which is harmful to the health of the public. It is held by the detaining authority that as the detenue is indulged in illegal activities, it is required to restrain him from carrying out further illegal activities, i. e. selling of liquor. The detaining authority has placed reliance on the above registered offences and statements of unnamed witnesses. In the opinion of this Court, the activities of the detenu can, by no stretch of imagination, be said to be disturbing the "public order. " 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. 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 arrived at by the detaining authority is vitiated on account of non-application of mind and the impugned order, therefore, deserves to be quashed and set aside.