GOPALKRISHNAN Vs. ADMINISTRATOR UNION TERRITORY OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner Gopal Krishnan has filed this petition under Article 226 of the constitution and Section 491 of the Criminal Procedure Code for a writ of habeas corpus. He was detained under Rule 30 of the Defence of India Rules by an order dated 28th December, 1964. of the Administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi, which was reviewed by the Administrator under Rule 30-A (8) of the Rules and confirmed by him on 31st May, 1965, the order of detention having been made with a view to prevent the detenu from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

(2.) THE petitioner alleged that his detention was mala fide and arbitrary. He was a member of the Communist Party of India and working in the Central Office of the party and never committed any act prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. On the date of his arrest, that is, 30th December. 1964, a large number of the members of the Communist Party were arrested and detained throughout India and on 1st January, 1965, Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda, Union Home Minister made a statement over the All India Radio and subsequently in the Parliament justifying these arrests and also making wild and malicious allegations against the communist Party. According to the petitioner, his detention was inspired and directed by Shri G L. Nanda, and the detaining authority did not apply its mind before ordering his detention which amounted to mala fide on the part of that authority. He alleged that his activities posed a danger to the continued Congress rule and his continued detention was calculated to punish him for his lawful activities. The conditions required under Clause (4) of Rule 30 of the Rules were also not specified in the detention order. Some other pleas were also taken which are not strictly relevant for purposes of decision of this petition.

(3.) ON a notice having been issued to the respondents on 18th October, 1965, Shri v. Viswanathan, Administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi, submitted his affidavit dated 5th November, 1965. He stated that the petitioner took active part in public life and there was ample material relating to his activities which showed that they were prejudicial to the maintenance of public order It is not necessary to cite any judgment on this point; if any is needed reference may be made to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia v. State of Bihar, Writ Petn. No. 79 of 1965 decided by the supreme Court on 7-9-1965 : (AIR 1966 SC 740) : Ananda Nambiar v. Chief Secy of the Govt. of Madras Writ Petn. No. 47 of 1965 decided by the Supreme Court on 27-10-1965 (AIR 1966 SC 657) and Full Bench judgment of this Court in Khacheru ram v. District Magistrate. Delhi, Cr. Writ No. 7-D of 1965 decided on 6-8-1965 : (AIR 1966 Punj. 399) (FB ). The State counsel, however, brought the record of the past activities of the detenu for my inspection and I went through the same. I feel that the detention of the petitioner was justified on the material placed on the record.