(1.) THE learned A. P. P. states that the Principal Secretary, (Appeal and Security) to the Government of Maharashtra, Home Department, dismissed the appeal on the ground that the period of externment came to an end on 20-12-2000 and that the order of externment is no longer operating. It appears that the petition came to be filed because, according to the petitioner, the externee was not served with a copy of the appellate order. Had he been served with the copy of this order, probably the petitioner would not have filed this petition at all. Unfortunately the appellate order is also not annexed along with the reply, but is tendered across the Bar. The same is taken on record and marked X for identification. In view of this order, a decision in this petition has become academic.
(2.) THE learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner states that nonetheless, he wishes to pursue the matter on merits because there is a stigma caused on the externee by the impugned order.
(3.) THE first point he has raised is that one of the grounds upon which the externment order is based is that the applicant, suspected that some of the residents of Manas Chowk, Model School, Sitabuldi Police Station area, Cotton Market, Jayshree Talkies, Ganeshpeth and adjoining areas are giving information to the police about his illegal activities and because of such suspicion, he is assaulting such residents and shopkeepers from such areas and by showing a knife and giving threats of assault, has created terror. The contention is that this ground was not mentioned in the show cause notice. He has placed reliance upon a judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of (Khairunisa Mohamed Suleman Sayyed v. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Miraj and another)reported in 1987 (1) Bom. C. R. 427, in which it has been held that an order passed on material which was not disclosed in show cause notice is liable to be set aside.