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Court No.2 Writ Petition No.125 (H/C) of 2011 Sukanya Devi and others State of U.P. and others --Versus --Opp. Parties Petitioners

Hon'ble Uma Nath Singh !. Hon'ble "r. Sati#h Chan$ra !. Memo of appearance of Sri I.B. Sin h! Senior "dvocate! #ith Suni$ %umar Sin h! "dvocate! fi$ed under the si nature of $earned counse$ on record Sri Shiv &hidam'ar in &ourt is taken on record. On 1(.().)(11! #rit petition *o.111 +M,S- of )(11 for issuance of a #rit of ha'eas corpus #as fi$ed #ith the fo$$o#in cause tit$e. /+1- Sukanya Devi! a ed a'out )0 years! D,o Ba$ram Sin h! 1,o )21)! Medica$ &ho#k! San3ay 4andhi Mar ! &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P.! throu h her ne6t friend %ishor Samrite! a ed a'out 0) years! S,o *an3i Samrite! 1,o Vi$$a e 7 Post 8 9an3i! District Ba$a 4hat! Madhya Pradesh. +)- Ba$ram Sin h! adu$t! S,o not kno#n to the ne6t friend! 1,o )21)! Medica$ &ho#k! San3ay 4andhi Mar ! &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P.! throu h her ne6t friend %ishor Samrite! a ed a'out 0) years! S,o *an3i Samrite! 1,o Vi$$a e 7 Post 8 9an3i! District Ba$a 4hat! Madhya Pradesh. +2- Sumitra Devi! adu$t! :,o Ba$ram Sin h! 1,o )2-1)! Medica$ &ho#k! San3ay 4andhi Mar ! &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P.! throu h her ne6t friend %ishor Samrite! a ed a'out 0) years! S,o *an3i Samrite! 1,o Vi$$a e 7 Post 8 9an3i! District Ba$a 4hat! Madhya Pradesh. -----Petitioners Versus +1- State of U.P.! throu h Principa$ Secretary +;ome-! &ivi$ Secretariat! 9uckno#. +)- Superintendent of Po$ice! &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. +2- Station ;ouse Officer! Po$ice Station "methi! &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. +0- &ommissioner of Po$ice! *e# De$hi. +<- Station ;ouse Officer! Po$ice Station Sansad Mar ! *e# De$hi. +=%ahul &an$hi! adu$t! S,o 9ate 1a3iv 4andhi! 1,o 1(! 5anpath! *e# De$hi. ----1espondents> ?he prayers for re$ief+s- as made in the #rit petition are. /+IIssue a #rit! order or direction in the nature of ha'eas corpus

commandin the opposite parties! particu$ar$y opposite party no.=! to produce the petitioners 'efore this ;on@'$e &ourt and set them at $i'ertyA +II- Issue any other order or direction #hich it deems fit and proper in the present circumstances! in favour of the petitioners! in the interest of 3ustice! and +III- "#ard the cost of petition to the petitioners.> ?he #rit petition is supported 'y an affidavit s#orn in 'y one %ishor Samrite! B6-M9" of Ba$a hat area of Madhya Pradesh #ho has c$aimed to 'e the ne6t friend of the detenues. :hen the matter #as $isted on (1.(2.)(11 for pre$iminary hearin 'efore a $earned Sin $e 5ud e of this &ourt! the fo$$o#in order #as passed. The petitioners claim their detention through their next friend, namely, Mr.Kishor Samrite under the custody of opposite party no.6 since 4th of January, 2 !. "et notice #e issued to the opposite party No.6 to su#mit reply. "ist after ser$ice report.% It appears that havin $earnt a'out the contents of the a'ove #rit petition and the order passed therein! the instant #rit petition #as fi$ed #ith the cause tit$e as. /+1- Sukanya Devi! a ed a'out )2 years! D,o Ba$ram Sin h! 1,o *ear 4urud#ara :ard *o.< ?o#n "rea "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. throu h ne6t friend 4a3endra Pa$ Sin h! a ed a'out <) years! son of 5o indra Pa$ Sin h! 1,o *ear Bus Station ?o#n "rea "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar. +)- Ba$ram Sin h! a ed a'out 0C years! son of not kno#n! 1,o *ear 4urud#ara :ard *o.< ?o#n "rea "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. throu h ne6t friend and remote re$ative Sri 4a3endra Pa$ Sin h. +2- Sumitra a$ias Mohani Devi! a ed a'out 0) years! 1,o *ear 4urud#ara :ard *o.< ?o#n "rea "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. throu h ne6t friend 4a3endra Pa$ Sin h! a ed a'out <) years! son of 5o indra Pa$ Sin h! 1,o *ear Bus Station ?o#n "rea "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar. ----Petitioners Versus 1. ?he State of U.P. throu h its Principa$ Secretary! ;ome Department! U.P. 4overnment! &ivi$ Secretariat! 9uckno#. ). Superintendent of Po$ice &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. 2. Station ;ouse Officer! Po$ice Station "methi! District &hhatrapati Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P. ----- 1espondents>

?he prayer part of the #rit petition on reproduction reads as. /+a- Issue a #rit or #rit order or direction in the nature of ha'eas corpus commandin the opposite parties to produce the petitioners 'efore this ;on@'$e &ourt and set them at $i'ertyA +'- to ca$$ the record of #rit petition no.111 +;,&- of )(11 and connect #ith this present #rit petition. ?he order passed in #rit petition no.111 +;,&- of )(11 'e revie#ed and reca$$edA +c- to order the investi ation 'y the appropriate a encyA +d- Issue any other order or direction #hich is deemed fit and proper in the present circumstances in favour of the petitioners! in the interest of 3ustice! and +e- "#ard the cost of the petition to the petitioners.> ?he matter came up for pre$iminary hearin 'efore this Bench on (0.(2.)(11 #hen the fo$$o#in order #as passed. This &rit petition has #een filed &ith the prayers for issuance of a &rit, order or direction in the nature of ha#eas corpus 'i( commanding the opposite parties to produce the petitioners #efore this )ourt so as to set them at li#erty* 'ii( calling for the record of +rit ,etition -o.... '/0)( of 2 .. pending #efore the )ourt of a learned Single Judge and to connect it &ith this &rit petition, and 'iii( ordering in$estigation #y some appropriate independent agency as this )ourt may deem fit and proper in the fact and circumstances of this case. The main purpose of filing a &rit petition for issuance of a &rit of ha#eas corpus is to see1 production of detenue from illegal detention of pu#lic authorities or pri$ate persons and a &rit petition under 2rticles 226 and 22! of the )onstitution &ould not lie &ithout the State or its instrumentalities #eing a party in terms of 2rticle .2 thereof. 3t is essentially the duty of State authorities to ensure the maintenance of la& and order, and to produce a detenue from illegal custody0detention if so directed #y a )ourt. Though under the 2llaha#ad /igh )ourt 4ules, a ,ro$iso &as added in .5!6 conferring po&ers also upon learned Single Judges to issue &rit of ha#eas corpus in the matter of pri$ate detention '&hich has further added to the mounting pendency( #ut prima facie, it seems to #e encroaching upon the po&ers entrusted to Magistrate under Section 5! of )r.,.). to see1 production from a &rongful confinement &hich is an offence punisha#le under Section 642 3,). These pro$isions on reproduction read as7 897. Search for persons wrongfully confined993f any :istrict Magistrate, Su#9di$isional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class has reason to #elie$e that any person is confined under such circumstances that the confinement amounts to an offence, he may issue a search9&arrant, and the person to &hom such &arrant is directed may search for the person so confined* and such search shall #e made in accordance there&ith, and the person, if found, shall #e immediately ta1en #efore a Magistrate, &ho shall ma1e such order as in the circumstances of the case

seems proper.8 8342- Punishment for wrongful confinement.99+hoe$er &rongfully confines any person shall #e punished &ith imprisonment of either description for a term &hich may extend to one year, or &ith fine &hich may extend to one thousand rupees, or &ith #oth.8 3n $ie& of the aforesaid clear pro$isions and remedy, a ;uestion that also needs to #e examined is as to &hether a &rit of ha#eas corpus &ould lie in the case of a pri$ate detention as pro$ided under the rules. 3ssue notice to the 4egistrar <eneral, 2llaha#ad /igh )ourt to su#mit his reply &ithin four &ee1s. 3n $ie& of all the aforesaid, &e direct that the records of +rit ,etition -o.... '/0)( of 2 .., said to #e pending #efore a learned Single Judge, shall #e connected &ith this &rit petition. =esides, &e also direct that the :irector <eneral of ,olice, >.,., shall produce the petitioners, in particular, Su1anya :e$i, on the next date of hearing i.e. !.6.2 ... /o&e$er, &e ma1e it clear that this direction to the :irector <eneral of ,olice, >.,., shall not #e construed to mean that the detenu is in illegal custody of State authorities and the :irector <eneral of ,olice, >.,., in this case shall function only as an officer of the )ourt for the purpose of production of detenu. "et a copy of this order #e ser$ed upon the :irector <eneral of ,olice, >.,., forth&ith on fax #y the 4egistrar of this )ourt for immediate compliance. 2dditionally, a copy of this order shall also #e issued to the <o$ernment )ounsel for doing the needful. "ist on !.6.2 ...% Pursuant to the order dated (0.(2.)(11! Dr. Ba$ram Sin h! his dau hter %irti Sin h +#ho has 'een #ron $y mentioned as @Sukanya Deviand #ife Smt. Sushi$a D Mohnini Devi +#ron $y mentioned as @Sumitra@- are produced in &ourt. Dr. Ba$ram Sin h states that a$$ the a$$e ations made in the ;a'eas &orpus petition! name$y! 111+;&- of )(11 are fa$se and scanda$ous and he is rather shocked on 'ein to$d a'out #i$d a$$e ations made a ainst po$itica$ $eader Shri 1ahu$ 4andhi! Mem'er of Par$iament from "methi. ;e p$eads comp$ete i norance a'out the a$$e ed incident. %irti Sin h! dau hter of Shri Ba$ram Sin h! states that she is a ed a'out )) years and has passed B.Sc. e6amination. Present$y! she is preparin to appear at B.Bd. B6amination. She a$so cate orica$$y denies the a$$e ations made in the #rit petition and states that a$$ such averments are fa$se and scanda$ous. Smt. Sushi$a! mother of %irti Sin h +#ron $y mentioned as Sukanya

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Devi-! condemns the a$$e ation made a ainst Sri 1ahu$ 4andhi and states that a$$ those persons #ho have made such fa$se a$$e ations shou$d 'e severe$y punished. "$$ the three detenues produced in the &ourt! 'y the Director 4enera$ of Po$ice! Uttar Pradesh! #ho himse$f is present in &ourt! are identified 'y Sri Prem Pa$ Sin h! In-char e of District &rime 1ecord Bureau +D&1B-! District &hhatrapati Shahu3i Mahara3 *a ar. "t this sta e! it is a$so pointed out 'y $earned "dvocate 4enera$ appearin for the State that the addresses of detenues iven in :rit Petition *o.111 +;,&- of )(11 fi$ed 'efore the $earned Sin $e 5ud e are a$so a'so$ute$y #ron . &ontrary to the stand taken 'y the detenues! in #rit petition *o.111+;,&- of )(11 fi$ed 'efore the $earned Sin $e 5ud e! some scanda$ous averments #hich can 'e termed as /a'horrent! atrocious and horrendous> have a$so 'een made. Such averments in a po$ity $ike ours #ith comparative$y $o# $iteracy rate +and even some of the $iterate are a$so uneducated- can impair the credi'i$ity and reputation of a man in pu'$ic $ife or ho$din hi h pu'$ic office 'eyond repairs and redemption #hich are enera$$y 'ui$t up 'rick 'y 'rick over a period of time. ?hese averments are a$so reproduced as under. /=. ?hat! to 'rin home the point! certain important facts are 'ein 'rou ht into the kind notice of this ;on@'$e &ourt as fo$$o#s. the petitioners are resident of "methi! &hhatrapti Shahu 5i Mahra3 *a ar! U.P.! #hich fa$$s in the par$iamentary constituency of "methi. ?he said constituency is 'ein represented 'y the private opposite party no.= in the Par$iament of India. C. ?hat! petitioner no.) is a &on ress #orker in "methi constituency. ?he private opposite party no.= 'e$on s to the Indian *ationa$ &on ress Party. Petitioner no.1 is dau hter of the petitioner nos. ) and 2. E. ?hat! the ne6t friend came to kno# from certain #e'sites viF. :##.indy'ay.or ! ###.ariFona.indymedia.or ! #hich contain various ne#s items inc$udin this one that in the ni ht of (2.1).)((=! #hi$e on tour of his par$iamentary constituency of "methi! the private opposite party no.= committed rape on the petitioner no.1! a$on #ith si6 of his friendsA t#o of them #ere of Ita$y and 0 #ere from Britain. Such ne#s reports as pu'$ished on different #e' sites are part of the "nne6ure *o.) herein.>

?hou h head$ines $ike @corruption and scanda$s@ are the re u$ar hi h $i hts of the e$ectronic and print media 'ut sti$$ a $ar e section of our popu$ation is honest and dedicated #hich a$one has made the surviva$ of our $ar est democracy possi'$e throu h a difficu$t evo$ution process #ith unhea$thy contradictions $ike the one as contained in the averments of #rit petition as referred to herein a'ove. &an our country #ith 1)( crore popu$ation #hich seems to 'e $ivin in the state of uneasy ca$m afford to provide $eve$ fie$ds for cheap immicks p$ayersG If not! then shou$d #e not find out a so$ution so that those #ho are du$y appointed or e$ected to hi h pu'$ic offices after fo$$o#in the procedures as esta'$ished 'y 9a#! 'e it B6ecutive or 9e is$ature or 5udiciary! need not stru $e in &ourts or other fora 3ust for their surviva$ in the system. But no# #hat #e notice that instead of e6tendin cooperation and support and providin conducive #orkin environment to et optima$ resu$t out of the functionin of such authorities! peop$e #ith vested interests start ru''in them a$$ over ti$$ they are finished to fit in and disappear in the '$ack ho$e of corruption. ?oday every process of se$ection or e$ection starts #ith venom and ends in disdain. ?hus no# it is a hi h time that the $e is$ature shou$d think to 'rin a suita'$e $e is$ation to protect the hi h pu'$ic functionaries from 'ein '$ackmai$ed 'y the '$ack sheeps #ho are present inside and outside the system so that they fee$ secure in the course of dischar e of their duties. Under these premises ti$$ the other or ans of State ponder over to 'rin suita'$e measures,$e is$ations etc. it #ou$d 'e e6pedient in the interest of 3ustice that in the e6ercise of our po#ers under "rtic$es ))= and ))C of the &onstitution! #e take this matter to its $o ica$ conc$usion 'y fo$$o#in the idea of the reat po$itica$ thinker and 1oman phi$osopher P$ato #ho has said that @virtue can and must 'e tau ht@. In vie# of a$$ the aforesaid and particu$ar$y for the reason that the #rit petition *o.111 +;,&- of )(11 #as fi$ed on the instructions of %ishor Samrite +#ho has a$so s#orn the affidavit in support of the #rit petition#hich contained #i$d a$$e ations,insinuation a ainst Shri 1ahu$ 4andhi and Huestions the virtue and modesty of a youn ir$ of )) years %m. %irti Sin h! #e dismiss this #rit petition #ith a cost of 1s.<(!((!(((,- +Iifty $acs-.

Out of the cost amount! 1s.)<!((!(((,- +?#enty five $acs- sha$$ 'e paid to %m. %irti Sin h and 1s.)(!((!(((,- +?#enty $acs- to Shri 1ahu$ 4andhi! opposite party no.=. ?he cost amount sha$$ 'e deposited #ithin a period of one month #ith the 1e istrar of this &ourt! fai$in #hich! the 1e istrar sha$$ take necessary action for recovery of the amount as $and revenue. :e a$so record our specia$ note of appreciation for Shri %aramveer Sin h! Director 4enera$ of Po$ice! U.P. +a hi h$y decorated po$ice officer-! for producin the a$$e ed detenues #ithin the time frame as directed in the order. ?hus! for a$$ the promptness and sincerity sho#n! in the midst of serious $a# and order pro'$ems a$$ over the State on account of some a itation! in o'eyin and comp$yin #ith the directions! #e direct payment of 1s.<!((!(((,- +five $acs- to#ards a re#ard to the D4P. :e a$so record our appreciation for Shri 5yotindra Misra! $earned "dvocate 4enera$ and the State 4overnment for sho#in concern in this matter. :e a$so direct the Director! &entra$ Bureau of Investi ation! to re ister case a ainst %ishor Samrite! the #e'sites referred to in :rit Petition *o.111 +;,&- of )(11! and a$$ other persons #ho are found invo$ved in the p$ot! if any! hatched in order to frame up Shri 1ahu$ 4andhi! Mem'er of Par$iament from "methi. :e a$so appreciate Shri 4a3endra Pa$ Sin h! author of :rit Petition *o.1)< +;,&- of )(11 for approachin this &ourt in order to save the reputation of Shri 1ahu$ 4andhi and the fami$y of a$$e ed detenues at the hands of vested interests responsi'$e for fi$in *o.111+;,&- of )(11. ?i$$ the investi ation continues and the #e'sites in Huestion are not c$eared 'y the &BI! their disp$ay in India sha$$ remain 'anned. ?he Director! &BI! sha$$ ensure comp$iance of this order forth#ith. ;e sha$$ a$so prepare a $ist of such other #e'sites #hich are invo$ved in disp$ay of scanda$ous informations a'out the functionaries ho$din hi h pu'$ic offices and su'mit a report in respect thereof on the ne6t date of hearin . ?hus! #rit petition no.1)< +;,&- of )(11 is part$y disposed of to the e6tent insofar as it re$ates to production of the a$$e ed detenues. ;o#ever! it sha$$ remain pendin in respect of notice issued to the 1e istrar 4enera$! "$$aha'ad ;i h &ourt and for the su'mission of report 'y the &BI as :rit Petition

directed herein a'ove. ?he matter sha$$ remain part heard. 9ist the matter on 11.(0.)(11 for further hearin . ?he 1e istrar of this &ourt sha$$ issue copy of this order to a$$ the concerned parties inc$udin the Director! &entra$ Bureau of Investi ation! for immediate comp$iance. (C.(2.)(11 ". %atiyar