Kewal Singh Alias Kalli v. State of Haryana and Others

o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 113o o o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRWP-3752-2026o KewaloSinghoaliasoKalliooooo o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersooo o o ....Respondentso o Dateoofodecision:o22.05.2026oDateoofodecision: 22.05.2026 DateoofoUploadingo:o22.05.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:oo Ms.oSimranoAtwal,oAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oJasleenoKaur,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o o o Ms.oMeghnaoMalik,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.3-UOIo o o (presenceomarkedothroughovideo-conferencing).o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo o

1.o o TheopresentocriminalowritopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoArticleso 226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoseekingoissuanceoofoaowritoinotheonatureo ofo Certiorario foro quashingo detentiono ordero datedo 01.12.2025o passedo byo respondentoNo.2ounderoSectiono3(1)oofotheoPreventionoofoIllicitoTrafficoino NarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1988o(hereinafteroreferredo too aso theo 'PITo NDPSo Act')o ando consequentialo confirmationo ordero datedo

14.02.2026owherebyodetentionoofotheopetitionerowasoconfirmedoforoaoperiodo ofosixomonthsofromotheodateoofodetentionoi.e.o05.12.2025.oAlternatively,otheo petitionerohasoalsoosoughtoaowritoinotheonatureoofoMandamusodirectingotheo respondentsotooreleaseohimoforthwith.o

2.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantofactualomatrixoofotheo lisoinohandoisoadumbrated,othus:o o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 2o o

(i)o o Theo petitionero iso ao residento ofo Districto Sirsa,o Haryana.o Ao proposal/dossieroforopreventiveodetentionounderotheoprovisionsoofotheoPITo NDPSoActowasoforwardedobyotheoSuperintendentoofoPolice,oDabwaliotootheo competentoauthorityoallegingothatotheopetitionerowasoinvolvedoinotraffickingo ofonarcoticosubstancesoandowasoinvolvedoinofiveoFIRsoregisteredounderotheo NDPSo Act.o Theo saido proposalo waso sento video communicationo datedo

09.10.2025.oThereafter,odetentionoorderodatedo01.12.2025ocameotoobeopassedo byo respondento No.2o undero Sectiono 3(1)o ofo theo PITo NDPSo Acto directingo preventiveodetentionoofotheopetitioner.oPursuantothereto,otheopetitionerowaso takenointoocustodyoono05.12.2025oandolodgedoinoDistrictoJail,oSirsa.o

(ii)o o TheodetentionoorderoprimarilyoreliesouponotheofollowingoFIRs:o

(a)e FIRoNo.115odatedo29.07.2020oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoOdhan,o Policeo Districto Dabwalioundero Sectionso22-C,o 61o ando85o ofo theo NDPSoActoinvolvingoallegedorecoveryoofo180otabletsoofoTramadol;o

(b)e FIRoNo.53odatedo28.03.2024oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoOdhan,o Policeo Districto Dabwalioundero Sectionso21-B,o 61o ando85o ofo theo NDPSoActoinvolvingoallegedorecoveryoofo10.50ogramsoofoheroin;o

(c)e FIRoNo.168odatedo09.09.2024oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoOdhan,o PoliceoDistrictoDabwaliowhereinotheopetitionerowasonominatedoono disclosureostatementoofoco-accusedoJagdishofromowhomo6.65ogramso heroinowasoallegedlyorecovered;o

(d)e FIRoNo.18odatedo24.01.2025oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoOdhan,o PoliceoDistrictoDabwaliowhereinotheopetitionerowasonominatedoono disclosureostatementoofoco-accusedoIqbaloSinghofromowhomo9.80o gramsoheroinowasoallegedlyorecovered;oando

(e)e FIRo No.100o datedo 05.05.2025o registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Kalanwali,o Policeo Districto Dabwalio whereino theo petitionero waso nominatedoonodisclosureostatementoofoco-accusedoGurjinderofromo whomo7.45ogramsoheroinowasoallegedlyorecovered.o o

(iii)o o Itoisopleadedothatotheopetitionerohadoalreadyobeenograntedoregularo bailobyocompetentoCourtsoinoallotheoaforesaidoFIRsopriorotooissuanceoofotheo detentionoorder.oItoisofurtherotheopleadedocaseoofotheopetitionerothatoafterogranto ofobailoinotheolatestoFIRodatedo05.05.2025,onoosubsequentoFIRoorocriminalo 2026.05.22 17:11 activityohadobeenoattributedotoohim.oo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 3o o

(iv)o o Theo recordo furthero reflectso thato ao representationo datedo

08.01.2026owasomadeobyotheowifeoofotheopetitioneroseekingorevocationoofotheo detentionoorder.oSubsequently,ovideoorderodatedo14.02.2026,otheodetentiono wasoconfirmedoforoaoperiodoofosixomonths,owhichoreadsothus:o o "Whereas,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredovideosectiono3o(1)oofotheo Preventiono ofo Illicito Traffico ofo Narcoticso Drugso ando Psychotropico SubstancesoAct,o1988o(forobrevityotheoAct,o1988),otheodetainingoauthorityo video ordero Endst.o No.o 05/112/2025-4HCo datedo 01.12.2025o issued.o

03.12.2025odirectedotoodetainoofoSh.oKewaloSinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetao Singho R/oo Villageo Ghukanwali,o Policeo Stationo Odhan,o Policeo Districto Dabwali,oHaryana,owithoaoviewotoopreventohimofromoengagingoinoillicito trafficoinonarcoticodrugsoandopsychotropicosubstance.oInopursuanceoofotheo saidodetentionoorderodatedo01.12.2025oissuedoono03.12.2025,oSh.oKewalo SinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetaoSinghowasodetainedoono05.12.2025oandoheoiso currentlyodetainedoinoDistrictoJail,oSirsa,oHaryana.o o Andowhereas,oaoreferenceounderosectiono9o(b)oofotheoAct,o1988oinorespecto ofodetentionoofoSh.oKewaloSinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetaoSinghowasomadeotoo theoAdvisoryoBoard,oHaryanaodulyoconstitutedounderosectiono9o(a)oofoAct,o 1988ovideoletterodatedo22.12.2025.oTheoAdvisoryoBoard,oafteroprovidingo anoopportunityoofohearingotootheodetaineeoSh.oKewaloSinghoaliasoKallioS/oo KhetaoSinghothroughovideooconferenceoono22.01.2026,osubmittedoitsoreporto datedo27.01.2026,owhichowasoreceivedovideoletterodatedo28.01.2026.oTheo Advisoryo Board,o ino itso reporto datedo 27.01.2026o haso concludedo thato sufficientocauseoisomadeooutoforotheopreventiveodetentionoofoSh.oKewalo SinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetaoSingh.o o Anonow,otherefore,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredobyosectiono9(f)o readowithosectiono11oofotheoAct,o1988,otheodetentionoorderoofoSh.oKewalo SinghoaliasokallioS/ooKhetaoSinghoissuedovideoEndst.oNo.05/112/2025-4HCo datedo03.12.2025oisoherebyoconfirmedoandoitoisofurherodirectedothatotheo periodoofodetentionoofoSh.oKewaloSinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetaoSinghoR/oo Villageo Ghukanwali,o Policeo Stationo Odhan,o Policeo Districto Dabwali,o Haryanaoinopursuanceoofotheoaforesaidodetentionoorderoshallobeosixomontho fromotheodateoofohisodetentionoi.e.o05.12.2025.o o o o (SudhiroRajpal,oIAS)o o o o AdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotooGovernmentoHaryana,o o o o HomeoDepartment"ooo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 4o o

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso iteratedo thato theo impugnedoconfirmatoryoorderoisoagainstotheobasicotenetsoofolawoasotheosameo doeso noto reflecto anyo independento applicationo ofo mindo ato theo endo ofo theo confirmingoauthority.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheoimpugnedo confirmationoorderohasobeenopassedosolelyoonotheobasisoofoopinionoofotheo AdvisoryoBoardoand,otherefore,oclearlyodoesonotoadhereotootheodistinctionoofo theopoweroofotheoStateoGovernment/appropriateoGovernmentoandoroleoofotheo Advisoryoboard.ooItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothat,oevenoif,oanoopinionoiso receivedofromotheoAdvisoryoBoardoregardingosatisfactionoofocontinuingotheo detentionoorder,oevenoinosuchoaosituation,otheoconfirmatoryoauthorityooughtotoo haveoappliedoitsoownoindependentomind.ooLearnedocounselohasourgedothatothiso vitaloaspectoofotheomatteroisoclearlyolackingoinotheoimpugnedoconfirmationo order.oOnotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,olearnedocounselohasoprayedothato theoimpugnedoorder(s)obeoset-aside.ooo

4.o o Referringotooreplyodatedo03.05.2026ofiledobyowayoofoaffidavitoofo YogeshoKataria,oDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceo(City),oDabwali,oDistricto Sirsa,oonobehalfooforespondentoNos.1,o2,o4otoo6,olearnedoStateocounselohaso opposedo theo petitiono ino hando ando haso contendedo thato theo petitionero iso ao habitualooffenderoasoheoinvolvedoinorepeatedooffencesounderotheoNDPSoActo andohisoactivitiesowereoprejudicialotoosocietyoatolarge.oLearnedoStateocounselo hasoiteratedothatotheocompetentoauthority(s),oafteroconsideringotheomaterialo placedobeforeoit,oarrivedoatosubjectiveosatisfactionothatopreventiveodetentiono ofo theo petitionero waso necessaryo too prevento himo fromo indulgingo ino illicito traffickingoofonarcotico substances.o Ito hasobeeno furthero contendedothatotheo impugnedoorder(s)ohaveobeenopassedoagainstotheopetitioneroforoup-keepingoofo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 5o o publicoorderoandolaw.oLearnedoStateocounselohasoemphasizedothatotheoentireo proceduralo normso haveo beeno meticulouslyo followed.o Furthermore,o theo impugnedoordersoareobasedoonosoundoreasoningoandoafterofollowingotheodueo processoofolaw.ooAccordingotoolearnedoStateocounsel,otheopetitionerohasonoo validoreasonoorogroundotoochallengeotheoimpugnedoorders.ooAccordingly,otheo dismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandoisoprayedofor.ooo

4.1.o o LearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.3-oUOIosubmitso thatotheoimpugnedoordersohaveobeenopassedobyotheoconcernedoauthorityoofo StateoofoHaryanaoandohence,onoowrittenoreply/responseoisorequired/filedoono behalfooforespondentoNo.3-UOI.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheorecord.o

6.o o Atothisostage,oitowouldobeoappositeotooreferohereinotooaojudgmento passedobyothisoCourtotitledoasoJasveeroSingho@oJasbiroSingho@oKalaovs.oStateo ofoHaryanaoandootherso=o2026:PHHC:78845,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:oofoHaryanaoandootherso=o2026:PHHC:78845,o o "PrimeoIssueo o o 5.o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopetitionoinohando isoasotoowhetherotheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderoisoliableotoobeoquashed.oo o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesoforocogitationoisoasotoowhethero theoconfirmingoauthority,owhileopassingoaoconfirmationoorderoinotermsoofo Sectiono9(f)oofoPITNDPSoAct,oisounderoaostatutoryoobligationotoopassoao reasonedo ordero reflectingo independento applicationo ofo mind,o noto onlyo regardingotheosubstantiveoconfirmationoofotheodetenue'sodetentionobutoalsoo withorespectotootheodeterminationoofotheoperiodoofoextension.oo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o Analysiso(reolaw)o o 8.o Ato firsto glance,o theo concepto ofo preventiveo detentiono appearso fundamentallyo antitheticalo withino theo fouro cornerso ofo constitutionalo democracyo governedo byo theo Ruleo ofo Law,o whoseo preambleo ando fundamentaloethosoelevatedopersonalolibertyotooaosacrosanctopinnacle.oToo incarcerateoanoindividualoanteodelictoo(i.e.obeforeotheocommissionoofoano offence)obasedoonomereoexecutiveoapprehension,oratherothanopostodelictoo (i.e.oafteroaopunitiveotrial),osharplyoconflictsowithotheovenerableomaximo libertasoomnibusorebusofavorabilioroestoi.e.olibertyoisotoobeofavouredoaboveo allothings.oYet,oConstitutionalogovernanceoisonotofoundedouponoabstracto 2026.05.22 17:11 idealismoalone,obutoequallyouponopragmaticorealismoandotheoimperativeo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 6o o necessityoofopreservingotheolargerosocietaloorder.oItocannotoaffordotoodwello ino theo realmo ofo doctrinaireo absolutism.o Ito waso ino recognitiono ofo thiso delicateoConstitutionaloequilibriumothatotheoframersoofotheoConstitution,o despiteotheirounmatchedoreverenceoforociviloliberties,oconsciouslyoretainedo provisionsoenablingopreventiveodetention.oTheorationaleounderlyingosucho retentionowasoneitheroaccidentalonoroornamental;orather,oitostemmedofromo theocompellingonecessityotooequipotheoStateowithoadequateoConstitutionalo machineryo too eliminate/curbo forceso whoseo activities,o mayo imperilo theo sovereigntyo ando integrityo ofo theo nation,o disrupto publico order,o threateno nationalo security,o oro endangero societalo peaceo ando welfare.o Ino sucho circumstances,otheolawocannotoaffordotoolockotheostableoafterotheohorseohaso bolted.oHowever,othisoinclusionowasoneveroanoendorsementoofoexecutiveo tyranny,o buto rathero ao calculatedo concessiono too theo ageo oldo adageo saluso populiosupremaolexoestooi.e.otheowelfare/safetyoofotheopeopleoinocommonoiso theo supremeo law,o thereby,o acknowledgingo thato theo preservationo ofo theo State'sosovereigntyoisotheoconditionoprecedentotootheoenjoymentoofoanyo individualociviloright.o o 8.1.o Tooforestallothisoextraordinaryoandoinherentlyonocuousopowerofromo degeneratingointooanoengineoofoautocraticooppression,otheoconstitutionalo schemao itselfo mandateso certaino irreducibleo safeguards,o strictissimio juriso observanceowhereof,oisosineoquaononoforoanyolawfulodeprivationoofoliberty.o TheseosafeguardsoprovidedounderoArticleo22oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiao areonotomerelyoperfunctoryoformalities;orather,otheyoconstituteoanoindelibleo ando substantiveo faceto ofo theo dueo processo ofo law,o theo non-complianceo whereofo renderso theo underlyingo proceedingso nullo ando voido ando theo resultantodetentionofundamentallyoillegal.oInothisosensitiveointersectionoofo Stateosecurity/onationalowelfareoandoindividualofreedom,otheolawodemandso strictissmiojuris,oadherenceowithotheseoproceduralosafeguards,oforowhenotheo Stateooperatesooutoofotheoshadowsoofosuspicion/oapprehensionoofofutureo transgression(s)oratherothanotheolightoofoevidence,othisoproceduraloshieldo remainsotheodetenue'sosoleorefugeoagainstoexecutiveooverreach.oAofailureo too scrupulouslyo observeo theseo Constitutionalo dictateso doeso noto merelyo constituteo venialo technicalo irregularity;o ito tantamounto too ao flagranto violationoofoArticleo21,oasotheoprocedureoestablishedobyolawobecomesoao mereohollowoshelloifoitsofoundationalosafeguardsoareobypassedoorodiluted.o Consequently,oanyostatuteoprovidingoforopreventiveodetentionomust,oasoao conditionoprecedentotooitsovalidity,oincorporateotheseominimumosafeguardso tooensureotheyoareonotosubvertedobyoadministrativeoipseodixit.o o o Amongstotheoconstellationoofosafeguards,oArticleo22(4)oservesoaso anoinstitutionalocheck,obyonecessitatingotheoconstitutionoofoanoindependento AdvisoryoBoardotooscrutiniseoanyoproposaloforoextendingodetentionobeyondo theo periodo ofo 3o months.o Theo roleo ofo Advisoryo Boardo iso noto merelyo advisoryo ino natureo ino colloquialo sense,o ito functionso aso ao quasi-judicialo bulwark,o ao sieveo througho whicho theo executive'so subjectiveo satisfactiono mustopass.oThisoisofurtherocomplementedobyoArticleo22(5),owhichoimposeso anoobligationotoofurnishotheogroundsoofodetention,oasosoonoasomayobeoandotoo affordotheodetenueotheo earliestoopportunityoofo makingo aorepresentation.o Thiso righto too representationo iso noto ao hollow,o formalistico ritualo buto ao substantiveoentitlementothatocarriesotheoimpliedorequirementoofoexpeditiouso considerationoandodisposalothereofobyotheoStateoinoaojudiciousomanner,o eschewingoanyomechanicalooroperfunctoryoapproach,olest,oitomayoconstituteo ao fatalo fractureo ino theo procedureo establishedo byo law,o ando renderso theo detentionovulnerableoforoArticleo21oscrutiny.o o 8.2.o TheoarchitecturaloblueprintoofotheseoConstitutionalosafeguardsofindso statutoryo expressiono ino Sectiono 9o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act.o Sectiono 9(a)o providesoforotheomanneroinowhichotheoAdvisoryoBoardoisotoobeoconstitutedo andoSectiono9(b)ofurtherotightensotheoproceduralonooseobyomandatingothato 2026.05.22 17:11 theoAppropriateo GovernmentomakeoaoformaloreferenceotootheoAdvisoryo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 7o o Boardo withino fiveo weekso fromo detention,o upono receipto whereof,o theo Advisoryo Boardo enterso intoo ao deliberativeo phase;o transcendingo ao mereo reviewoofotheorecordotooconsideroallorelevantomaterialoandoanyosuchofurthero information,oasodeemedonecessary;ojudicially.oThisoprocessoculminatesointoo aoreportounderoarticleo22(4)(a),owherein,oforotheodetentionotoobeocontinuedo andolawful,otheoAdvisoryoBoardomustohaveoarrivedoatoaocategoricalofindingo asotoowhetherothereoexistso'sufficientocause'oforotheocontinuedoincarcerationo ofotheoindividual.o o 8.3.o TheofinalityoandopotencyoofotheoAdvisoryoBoard'sodeterminationo findo theiro statutoryo anchorageo ino Sectiono 9(f)o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act,o ao provisiono thato mirrorso theo mandateo ofo Articleo 22(4)(a).o Sectiono 9(f)o envisagesoaostark,obinaryostatutoryoschema:ofirstly,oshouldotheoAdvisoryo Boardo reporto ao deficito ofo sufficiento cause,o theo Appropriateo Government/ConfirmatoryoAuthority'sodiscretionaryoveneeroisosummarilyo strippedoaway,oandoitoisounderoanoexacting,omandatoryoobligationotoorevokeo theo detentiono ordero ando effectuateo immediateo releaseo ofo theo subject.o Conversely,owhereotheoAdvisoryoBoardoreportsotheoexistenceoofo'sufficiento cause'o theo statutoryo languageo shiftso fromo theo mandatoryo 'shall'o too permissiveo'may'.oThisoshiftofromomandatoryo'shall'o(inocaseoofonegativeo opiniono byo theo Advisoryo Board)o too theo permissiveo 'may'o (ino caseo ofo positiveo opiniono byo theo Advisoryo Board)o createso ao significanto jurisdictionalo pause.o Thiso linguistico nuanceo signalso thato theo Advisoryo Board'sopositiveoopinionoisoanoenablingofactor,obutonotoaocompellingofactoro forotheoAppropriateoGovernment/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityotoomechanicallyo complyowithoit.oTheofiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino JayanarayanoSukulo(supra);owhileointerpretingoSectiono11(1)oofotheoPDo Act,o1950,oprovisionsowhereofoareoinopariomateriaowithoSectiono9(f)oofotheo PITNDPSo o Act,o observedo thato theo government'so considerationo ofo ao detenue'sorepresentationoisoentirelyoautonomousoandoindependentoofoanyo actionoororeviewobyotheoAdvisoryoBoard.oWhileoaonegativeoreportofromotheo AdvisoryoBoardoleavesotheogovernmentowithonoochoiceobutotooimmediatelyo releaseo theo detenue,o ao positiveo reporto fromo theo Advisoryo Boardo iso noto binding,oandotheogovernmentoretainsotheoultimate,oindependentopowerotoo exerciseoitsodiscretionoandoreleaseotheodetenue.oFurthermore,otheoDivisiono Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Bombayo Higho Courto ino Rajendraprasado Guptao (supra)oheldothatotheoauthorizedoofficeromustoapplyohisomindoandoscanotheo relevantomaterialocompletelyoafreshoatoeachodistinctostage,owhetheroduringo approval,o considerationo ofo representation,o oro confirmation;o becauseo theo underlyingo legalo purposeo ofo theo evaluationo shiftso ato everyo milestone.o Specifically,owhileotheooriginaloapprovalostageotestsotheoinitialosufficiencyo ofo causeo too authorizeo detention,o theo subsequento confirmationo stageo requireso ao fundamentallyo differento assessment:o theo Appropriateo Government/o Confirmationo Authorityo musto determineo whethero theo detenue'so propensityo ando potentialityo too commito similaro offenseso stillo persistsoatothatolaterodate,otherebyorequiringoanoindependentoevaluationoofo theoentireomatrix,oincludingotheooriginalogrounds,oanyonewomaterial,oando theo Advisoryo Board'so report,o too justifyo extendingo theo detention.o Ito iso pertinentotoomentionohereinothatotheoprinciplesoenunciatedobyotheoHon'bleo Bombayo Higho Courto ino Rajendraprasado Guptao (supra)o applyo witho fullo forceotootheopresentocase,oalbeit,otheoHighoCourtothereinohavingointerpretedo Sectiono12oofotheoMPCADoAct,o1980,otheoprovisionsoofowhichoareoinopario materialo ando indeed,o verbatimo withoSectiono 9(f)o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act.o Consequently,otheoratioodecidendioofotheosaidojudgmentodirectlyogovernso theostatutoryointerpretationorequiredoherein.oo o 8.4.o AobareoperusaloofoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,orevealsothato theoAppropriateoGovernment/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityoisothusovestedowithoao dualodiscretion:ofirstly,oitomustoadjudicateouponotheonecessityoofocontinuedo 2026.05.22 17:11 incarcerationo notwithstandingo theo Advisoryo Board'so positiveo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 8o o recommendation;o ando secondly,o shouldo theo Appropriateo Government/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityochoseotooconfirmofurtherodetention,o itomustojudiciouslyocalibrateotheotemporaloextentoofosuchodetention.oAofiveo JudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoDattatrayao(supra);owhileo dealingo witho Sectiono 11o ofo theo PDo Act,o 1950,o provisionso whereofo areo verbatimowithoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,oobservedothatotheophraseo 'forosuchoperiodoasoitothinksofit'omandatesotheodetainingoauthority,oupono'forosuchoperiodoasoitothinksofit' receivingotheoAdvisoryoBoard'soreport,otooindependentlyodecideowhetherotoo confirmotheodetentionoandodetermineoitsospecificofutureoduration.oThisodualo discretiono iso neithero ornamentalo flourisho noro ao licenseo foro executiveo caprice.o Similarly,o theo exerciseo ofo discretiono byo ano administrativeo authority,oparticularlyoinotheosensitiveotheatreoofopreventiveodetention,oiso neveroanounfetteredolicenseoforoindividualowhim,orather,oitoisoaolegalopowero heldoinotrust,otoobeoexercisedowithinotheorigorousoperimetersoofotheoRuleoofo Law.oTheostatutoryoemploymentoofotheowordo'may'oandoofophraseo'forosucho periodoasoitothinksofit'oinoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,oisonotoano investmentoofounfetteredooroabsoluteopower;orather,oitosignifiesotheovestingo ofoaohighlyostructuredolegalodiscretionotoobeoexercisedosecundumoarbitriumo boniovirio(i.e.oaccordingotootheojudgmentoofoaosoundopersonoguidedobyolawo andoreason).oToosatisfyotheoconstitutionaloconscienceoandowithstandotheo exactingoscrutinyoofoArticleo21,otheoConfirmationoOrderomustostandoasoano articulate,o self-containedo testamento too theo authority'so intellectualo engagement,o constitutingo ao speakingo ordero ex-facie.o Theo independento applicationo ofo mindo byo theo Appropriateo Government/o Confirmatoryo Authorityo cannoto beo ao mattero ofo abstracto presumptiono oro post-factoo rationalization;o ito musto beo demonstrablyo manifestedo withino theo fouro cornerso ofo theo confirmationo ordero itself.o Wheno theo Appropriateo Government/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityoreceivesoaopositiveoopinionofromotheo AdvisoryoBoard,oitodoesonotoactoasoaomereopassiveorecordingomachineooroao mechanicalo conduit.o Theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authorityo musto demonstrateo ano independento subjectiveo satisfaction,o regardingotheocontinuationoasoalsootheodurationoofotheodetention,owhicho necessitatesoanoexhaustiveointellectualoengagementowithotheoentireodossiero ofotheodetenue;opositiveoopinionoofotheoAdvisoryoBoardoconstitutesomerelyo aopartoofotheowhole,owhereof.oo o o Ergo,o theo Confirmatoryo Authorityo remainso legallyo boundo too conductoanoexhaustive,oindependentoreviewoofotheoentireodossier,obalancingo theo personalo libertyo ofo theo detenueo againsto theo societalo exigencieso contemplatedobyotheoPITNDPSoAct.oIfotheofinaloconfirmationoorderolacksoao discernibleonarrativeoofoindependentoreasoning,ooroifoitofailsotooexplicitlyo justifyotheotemporaloextentoofotheodetentionowithoqualitativeoreasonsorathero thanoaomereoquantitativeodeclaration,oitodegeneratesointooaomereoipseodixito ofo theo executive.o Ao perfunctoryo oro boilerplate/mechanicalo ordero thato mimicsotheoAdvisoryoBoard'soconclusionsowithoutoindependentoanalysiso suffersofromoaofatalonon-applicationoofomind.oSuchoanoinfirmityogoesotootheo rooto ofo theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authority'so jurisdiction,orenderingotheoresultantoconfirmationoorderoultraovires,ovoidoabo initio,oandoaoflagrantoinfractionoofotheoproceduralosafeguardsoguaranteedo underoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution,oasotheoprocedureoestablishedobyolawo becomesoaomereohollowoshelloifoitsofoundational,oreasonedosafeguardsoareo bypassedoorodiluted.oTheoDivisionoBenchooofotheoHon'bleoBombayoHigho CourtoinoAkshayoBhaskaroSahareo(supra);owhileodealingowithoSectiono12oofo theoMPDAoAct,o1981,oprovisionsowhereofoareoinopariomateriaowithoSectiono 9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,oheldothatotheodiscretionotooconfirmopreventiveo detentiono musto beo exercisedo carefullyo througho ao reasonedo ordero thato evaluatesobothotheoinitialocircumstancesoandotheosituationoprevailingoatotheo timeoofoconfirmation.oIfotheopurposeoofodetentionohasobeenoachieved,otheo 2026.05.22 17:11 detenueo musto beo released;o however,o ifo extensiono iso necessary,o theo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 9o o Governmentomustoexplicitlyoexplainowhyotheothreatopersists,oestimateohowo longo thoseo circumstanceso willo prevail,o ando calibrateo theo periodo ofo continuedodetentionoaccordingly.o o o o 9.o Asoaosequitterotootheoaboveorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o o (i)o Sectiono 9(f)o ofo theo PITNDPSo Acto vestso theo Appropriateo Government/o Confirmatoryo Authorityo witho ao distinct,o dualo discretion:o firstly,oitomustoindependentlyoadjudicateouponotheosubstantiveonecessityoofo continuingotheopreventiveodetention;oandosecondly,oitomustoqualitativelyo calibrateo ando justifyo theo preciseo temporalo durationo ofo sucho extendedo confinement.oTheophraseo"forosuchoperiodoasoitothinksofit"odoesonotoconfero absoluteo power,o buto signifieso ao structuredo discretiono too beo exercisedo rationallyoandoproportionately.o o (ii)o Theo Appropriateo Government/o Confirmatoryo Authorityo cannoto treatoaopositive/affirmativeoopinionoofotheoAdvisoryoBoardoasoaomechanicalo mandateo foro continuedo incarceration.o Theo Advisoryo Board'so findingo iso merelyoaocomponentoofotheoevidentiaryomatrix,oandonotoitsoentirety.oTheo AppropriateoGovernment/oConfirmatoryoAuthorityoremainsolegallyoboundo too conducto ano autonomous,o exhaustiveo reviewo ofo theo detenue'so entireo dossier,oformingoitsoownoindependentosubjectiveosatisfactionoratherothano passivelyoadoptingotheoAdvisoryoBoard'soconclusions.o o (iii)o Too satisfyo theo constitutionalo safeguardso ofo Articleo 21,o theo confirmationo ordero musto beo ao speakingo ordero ex-facie,o servingo aso ano articulate,o self-containedo testamento too theo authority'so mentalo process.o Independentoapplicationoofomindocannotobeopresumedoororationalizedopost-facto;oitomustobeodemonstrablyomanifestedowithinotheofourocornersoofotheo order,o explicitlyo providingo clear,o cogento reasoningo foro botho theo confirmationoitselfoandotheospecificodurationoprescribed.o o (iv)o Anyoconfirmationoorderothatoactsoasoaoperfunctoryorubberostampooro ao mechanical/boilerplateo replicationo ofo theo Advisoryo Board'so opiniono suffersofromoaofatalonon-applicationoofomind.oByofailingotoovisiblyoprojecto independentoanalysisoandoqualitativeoreasons,otheoorderodegeneratesointooao mereoexecutiveoipseodixit.oThisoproceduralofractureogoesotootheorootoofo jurisdiction,othereby,orenderingotheoconfirmationoorderounsustainable."o

7.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo impugnedo confirmationo ordero reflectso thato thereoisonooindependentoapplicationoofomindobyotheoconfirmatory/appropriateo governmentowhichois,oindubitably,oreflectedofromotheorelevantopartoofotheo saidoorder,owhichoreadsothus:o o "Anonow,otherefore,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredobyosectiono9(f)o readowithosectiono11oofotheoAct,o1988,otheodetentionoorderoofoSh.oKewalo SinghoaliasokallioS/ooKhetaoSinghoissuedovideoEndst.oNo.05/112/2025-4HCo datedo03.12.2025oisoherebyoconfirmedoandoitoisofurtherodirectedothatotheo periodoofodetentionoofoSh.oKewaloSinghoaliasoKallioS/ooKhetaoSinghoR/oo Villageo Ghukanwali,o Policeo Stationo Odhan,o Policeo Districto Dabwali,o Haryanaoinopursuanceoofotheoaforesaidodetentionoorderoshallobeosixomontho fromotheodateoofohisodetentionoi.e.o05.12.2025."o o o Theoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderodoesonotodiscloseoanyoreasono whatsoever,oeitheroforoconfirmingotheoorderoofodetentionooroforodeterminingo o o CRWP-3752-2026o o o 10o o theoperiodoforowhichosuchodetentionowasotooremainooperative.oTheoimpugnedo confirmationo ordero is,o thus,o completelyo berefto ofo reasons,o whicho areo ano indispensableo faceto ofo ao valido determination,o particularlyo wheno theo sameo entailso curtailmento ofo personalo liberty.o Theo absenceo ofo anyo discernibleo reasoningostrikesoatotheoveryorootoofotheodecision-makingoprocessoandorenderso theoimpugnedoorderolegallyounsustainable.oErgo,otheosameoisosansoreasoning,o whichoisorequiredotoobeocomingoforthofromoanoorderounderochallenge.ooInotheo factualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredoopiniono thatotheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderodatedo14.02.2026ocannotobeosustainedo inotheoeyesoofolawoandodeservesotoobeoquashed.ooo

8.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o Theoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderodatedo14.02.2026opassedobyo AdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotooGovernmentoofoHaryana,oHomeoDepartment,o isoherebyoquashed.oo

(ii)o o Theopetitioneroisodirectedotoobeosetoatoliberty,oforthwith,oifonoto requiredoinoanyootherocase.oo

(iii)o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.ooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Mayo22,o2026o Ajay/mahaviroo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo o