Supreme Court: Vacancies From Resignations under CUSAT Act Must Follow Communal Rotation  ||  Supreme Court: Forest Land Cannot Be Leased or Used For Agriculture Without Centre’s Approval  ||  Supreme Court: Gravity of Offence and Accused’s Role Must Guide Suspension of Sentence under CrPC  ||  Supreme Court: Arbitral Awards Cannot be Set Aside For Mere Legal Errors or Misreading of Evidence  ||  SC Acknowledges Child Trafficking as a Grave Reality and Issues Guidelines to Assess Victim Evidence  ||  Allahabad HC: When Parties Extend an Agreement by Conduct, The Arbitration Clause Extends Too  ||  Supreme Court: Issues of Party Capacity and Maintainability Must Be Decided by Arbitral Tribunal  ||  Supreme Court: Omissions in Chief Examination Can Be Rectified During Cross-Examination  ||  Supreme Court: Items Given by Accused to Police Are Not Section 27 Recoveries under Evidence Act  ||  Gujarat High Court: Waqf Institutions Must Pay Court Fees When Filing Disputes in State Tribunal    

Hetchin Haokip Vs. State of Manipur and Ors. - (Supreme Court) (20 Jul 2018)

Detaining authority must furnish report of detention at the earliest possible and any delay in the same must be supported by unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of authority

MANU/SC/0755/2018

Criminal

Present proceedings have arisen from the judgment of a High Court. The Appellant's contention was that, the District Magistrate failed to report the detention to the State Government "forthwith," as provided under Section 3(4) of the National Security Act, 1980 . The question before the High Court was whether the provisions of Section 3(4) of the Act, 1980, requiring the detaining authority to report the detention to the State Government 'forthwith,' have been violated.

It is settled law that, a statute providing for preventive detention has to be construed strictly. While "forthwith" may be interpreted to mean within reasonable time and without undue delay, it certainly should not be laid down as a principle of law that as long as the report to the State Government is furnished within 12 days of detention, it will not prejudice the detenu. Under Section 3(4) of Act, the State Government is required to give its approval to an order of detention within twelve, or as the case may be, fifteen days.

The detaining authority must furnish the report at the earliest possible. Any delay between the date of detention and the date of submitting the report to the State Government, must be due to unavoidable circumstances beyond the control of the authority and not because of administrative laxity.

In the present case, the District Magistrate submitted the report to the State Government on the fifth day (17 July 2017), after the date of the detention order (12 July 2017). The reason for the delay of five days is neither mentioned in the State Government's order confirming the detention order, nor in the impugned judgment. It was for the District Magistrate to establish that, he had valid and justifiable reasons for submitting the report five days after passing the order of detention. Whether there were administrative exigencies which justify the delay in sending the reports must be explained by the detaining authority. In the present case, the District Magistrate offered no explanation. This would vitiate the order of detention. The impugned judgment and order of the High Court set aside. The appeal is accordingly allowed.

Tags : DETENTION   REPORT   SUBMISSION  

Share :        

Disclaimer | Copyright 2025 - All Rights Reserved