Jasveer Singh @ Jasbir Singh @ Kala v. State of Haryana and Ors

o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 1oCRWP 4590 2026 o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o CRWP-4590-2026o o JasveeroSingho@oJasbiroSingho@oKalaooooo o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaoandoothersooo o o o o o ....Respondentso o Reservedoon:o13.05.2026o DateoofoPronouncement/oDecision:o20.05.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o20.05.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oAnkuroMittal,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oKushaldeepoKaur,oAdvocate,oo o o Mr.oKushagaroGoel,oAdvocate,oMs.oPreetioGoyal,oAdvocateo o o Mr.oSakaloSikri,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oSharvioDadhwal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o *****o o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.oo

1.o o Takingoexceptionotootheoconfirmationoorderodatedo05.03.2026o passedobyotheoAdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotootheoGovernmentoofoHaryanao

(Home)o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'impugnedoconfirmationoorder'),otheo petitionerohasopreferredotheopresentocriminalowritopetitionounderoArticleo 226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiao(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'petitionoino hand')oforoquashingoofotheosame.oo

2.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantofactualomatrixoofo theolisoinohandoisoadumbrated,othus:oo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 2oCRWP 4590 2026 o

(i)o o Onoaccountoofotheopetitionerobeingoinvolvedoino10oFIR(s),otheo SecretaryotooGovernmentoofoHaryana,oHomeoDepartmentopassedoanoordero datedo07.01.2026oforopreventiveodetentionoofotheopetitioner.o

(ii)o o Theopetitioneroisostatedotoohaveomadeoaorepresentationoagainsto theo aboveo detentiono order.o o Upono opiniono ofo theo concernedo Advisoryo Board,otheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderowasopassed,owhichoreadsothus:o o "Whereas,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredovideosectiono3o(1)oofotheo Preventiono ofo Illicito Traffico ofo Narcoticso Drugso ando Psychotropico Substanceso Act,o 1988o (foro brevityo theo Act,o 1988),o the,o detainingo authorityo video ordero datedo 07.01.2026o directedo too detaino Sh.o Jasbiro SinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghoR/ooVillageoMalikpura,oP.S.oOdhan,o PoliceoDistrictoDabwali,oHaryana,owithoaoviewotoopreventohimofromo engagingoinoillicitotrafficoinonarcoticodrugsoandopsychotropicosubstance.o Inopursuanceoofotheosaidodetentionoorderodatedo07.01.2026,oSh.oJasbiro SinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghowasodetainedoono08.01.2026oandoheoiso currentlyodetainedoinoDistrictoJail,oSirsa,oHaryanao o o Andowhereas,oaoreferenceounderosectiono9o(b)oofotheoAct,o1988o inorespectoofodetentionoofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSingho waso madeo too theo Advisoryo Board,o Haryanao dulyo constitutedo undero sectiono9o(s)oofoAct,o1988ovideoletterodatedo09.01.2026.oTheoAdvisoryo Board,oafteroprovidingoanoopportunityoofohearingotootheodetaineeoSh.o JasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghothroughovideooconferenceoono

18.02.2026,osubmittedoitsoreportodatedo19.02.2026,owhichowasoreceivedo videolaterodatedo20.02.2026.oTheoAdvisoryoBoard,oinoitsoreportodatedo

19.02.2026o haso concludedo thato sufficiento causeo iso madeo outo foro theo preventiveodetentionoofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaos/ooBhagoSingh.o o o Ando now,o therefore,o ino exerciseo ofo theo powerso conferredo byo sectiono9(1)oreadowithosectiono11oofotheoActo1988,otheodetentionoordero ofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghoissuedovideoorderodatedo

07.01.2026o iso herebyo confirmedo ando ito iso furthero directedo thato theo periodoofodetentionoofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghoR/oo VillageoMalikpura,oP.S.oOdhan,oPoliceoDistrictoDabwali,oHaryanaoino pursuanceoofotheoaforesaidodetentionoorderoshallobeosixomonthofromotheo dateoofohisodetentionoi.e.o08.01.2026.o o o o SD/o(SudhiroRajpal,oIAS)o o o o Additionalo Chiefo Secretaryo too Governmento Haryana,o Homeo o o o oDepartment"o o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 3oCRWP 4590 2026 o o o Itoisoinotheoaforesaidofactualobackdropothatotheopetitionoino handohasocomeoupoforoadjudicationobeforeothisoCourt.oo RivaloSubmissionso

3.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothatotheo impugnedoconfirmationoorderoisoagainstotheobasicotenetsoofolawoasotheo sameodoesonotoreflectoanyoindependentoapplicationoofomindoatotheoendoofo theo confirmingo authority.o o Learnedo senioro counselo haso urgedo thato theo impugnedoconfirmationoorderohasobeenopassedosolelyouponotheoopinionoofo theoAdvisoryoBoardoandoitohasoclearlyonotoadheredotootheodistinctionoofotheo poweroofotheoStateoGovernment/appropriateoGovernmentoandoroleoofotheo Advisoryoboard.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohasoiteratedothat,oevenoif,oano opinionoisoreceivedofromotheoAdvisoryoBoardoregardingosatisfactionoofo continuingotheodetentionoorder,oevenoinosuchoaosituation,otheoconfirmatoryo authorityo oughto too haveo appliedo itso owno independento mind.o o Learnedo seniorocounselohasourgedothatothisovitaloaspectoofotheomatteroisoclearlyo lackingo ino theoimpugnedo confirmationoorder.o Onotheo strengtho ofotheseo submissions,otheograntoofopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o RespondentoNos.1otoo4ohaveofiledotheowrittenoreplyobyowayo ofo affidavito datedo 06.05.2026o ofo Sh.o Sandeepo Singh,o Deputyo SuperintendentoofoPolice,oKalanwali,oDistrictoSirsaowhereasoaoseparateo writteno replyo datedo 02.05.2026o haso beeno preferredo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.5,o ino theo Court;o whicho areo takeno ono record.o o Raisingo submissionsoinotandemowithotheoaboveoreply(s),olearnedoStateocounselohaso submittedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofoundotoobeoinvolvedoinomultipleo NDPSocasesoand,othus,otheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderohasobeenopassedo againstotheopetitioneroforoup-keepingoofopublicoorderoandolaw.ooLearnedo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 4oCRWP 4590 2026 o Stateo counselo haso furtherourgedothato theoentireo proceduralonormso haveo beeno meticulouslyo followed.o o Ito haso beeno furthero submittedo thato theo impugnedoconfirmationoorderoisobasedoonosoundoreasoningoandologicoaso alsooinotandemowithotheoopinionogivenobyotheoconcernedoAdvisoryoBoard.oo Onotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,otheodismissaloofotheopetitionoinohando isoentreatedofor.oo PrimeoIssueo

5.o o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopetitiono inohandoisoasotoowhetherotheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderoisoliableotoobeo quashed.oo o o Theo seminalo legalo issueo thato ariseso foro cogitationo iso aso too whetherotheoconfirmingoauthority,owhileopassingoaoconfirmationoorderoino termsoofoSectiono9(f)oofoPITNDPSoAct,oisounderoaostatutoryoobligationotoo passo ao reasonedo ordero reflectingo independento applicationo ofo mind,o noto onlyoregardingotheoosubstantiveoconfirmationoofotheodetenue'sodetentiono butoalsoowithorespectotootheodeterminationoofotheoperiodoofoextension.oo RelevantoStatuteo

6.o o TheoConstitutionoofoIndiao I.o Articleo22oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oreadsoasoundero o "22.oProtectionoagainstoarrestoandodetentionoinocertainocaseso o (1)o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o (2)o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o (3)o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o (4)o Noolawoprovidingoforopreventiveodetentionoshalloauthoriseotheo detentionoofoaopersonoforoaolongeroperiodothanothreeomonthsounless―o o (a)o anoAdvisoryoBoardoconsistingoofopersonsowhooare,ooro haveobeen,ooroareoqualifiedotoobeoappointedoas,oJudgesoofoaoHigho Courtohasoreportedobeforeotheoexpirationoofotheosaidoperiodoofo threeomonthsothatothereoisoinoitsoopinionosufficientocauseoforo suchodetention:o o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 5oCRWP 4590 2026 o o o Providedothatonothingoinothisosub-clauseoshalloauthoriseo theo detentiono ofo anyo persono beyondo theo maximumo periodo prescribedobyoanyolawomadeobyoParliamentounderosub-clauseo(b)o ofoclauseo(7);ooro o (b)o sucho persono iso detainedo ino accordanceo witho theo provisionsoofoanyolawomadeobyoParliamentounderosub-clauseso

(a)oando(b)oofoclauseoo (7).o o (5)o Whenoanyopersonoisodetainedoinopursuanceoofoanoordero madeo undero anyo lawo providingo foro preventiveo detention,o theo authorityo makingo theo ordero shall,o aso soono aso mayo be,o communicateotoosuchopersonotheogroundsoonowhichotheoordero hasobeenomadeoandoshalloaffordohimotheoearliestoopportunityoofo makingoaorepresentationoagainstotheoorder.o o o (6)o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o (7)o Parliamentomayobyolawoprescribe―o o (a)o theocircumstancesounderowhich,oandotheoclassooroclasseso ofocasesoinowhich,oaopersonomayobeodetainedoforoaoperiodolongero thano threeo monthso undero anyo lawo providingo foro preventiveo detentionowithoutoobtainingotheoopinionoofoanoAdvisoryoBoardo inoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofosub-clauseo(a)oofoclauseo

(4);o o (b)o theomaximumoperiodoforowhichoanyopersonomayoinoanyo classooroclassesoofocasesobeodetainedounderoanyolawoprovidingo foropreventiveodetention;oando o (c)o theoprocedureotoobeofollowedobyoanoAdvisoryoBoardoino anoinquiryounderosub-clauseo(a)oofoclauseo(4)."o II.o o Theo Preventiono ofo Illicito Traffico Ino Narcotico Drugso ando PsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1988o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'PITNDPSoAct')o o "9.o AdvisoryoBoards.––oForotheopurposesoofosub-clauseo(a)oofoclauseo(4)o andosub-clause(c)oofoclauseo(7)oofoarticleo22oofotheoConstitution,o–o

(a)e o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo

(b)eo xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o

(c)e o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo

(d)eo xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo

(e)e o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo

(f)e o inoeveryocaseowhereotheoAdvisoryoboardohasoreportedothato thereoiso inoitso opinionosufficientocauseoforotheo detentiono ofo ao person,otheoappropriateoGovernmentomayoconfirmotheodetentiono orderoandocontinueotheodetentionoofotheopersonoconcernedoforo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 6oCRWP 4590 2026 o suchoperiodoasoitothinksofiroandoinoeveryocaseowhereotheoAdvisoryo boardohasoreportedothatothereoisoinoitsoopiniononoosufficientocauseo foro theo detentiono ofo theo persono concerned,o theo appropriateo Governmento shallo revokeo theo detentiono ordero ando causeo theo personotoobeoreleasedoforthwith."o III.o o PreventiveoDetentionoAct,o1950o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'PDo Acto1950')o o "11.oActionoUponotheoReportoofoAdvisoryoBoard.o––o

(1)eInoanyocaseowhereotheoAdvisoryoboardohasoreportedothatothereoiso inoitsoopinionosufficientocauseoforotheodetentionoofoaoperson,otheo appropriateoGovernmentomayoconfirmotheodetentionoOlderoando continueotheodetentionoofotheopersonoconcernedoforosuchoperiodo asoitothinksofit.o(2)oInoanyocaseowhereotheoAdvisoryoboardohaso reportedothatothereoisoinoitsoopiniononoosufficientocauseoforotheo detentionoofotheopersonsoconcerned,otheoappropriateoGovernmento shallo revokeo theo detentiono ordero ando causeo theo persono too beo releasedoforthwith."o IV.oo o TheoMaharashtraoPreventionoofoCommunal,oAnti-socialoandootheroIV.o TheoMaharashtraoPreventionoofoCommunal,oAnti socialoandoothero Dangerouso Activitieso Act,o 1980o (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'MPCADo Acto 1980')o o "12.o ActionouponotheoreportoofoAdvisoryoBoardo––o(1)oInoanyocaseowhereo theoAdvisoryoBoardohasoreportedothatothereoisoinoitsoopinionosufficientocauseo foro theo detentiono ofo ao person,o theo Stateo Governmento mayo confirmo theo detentionoorderoandocontinueotheodetentionoofotheopersonoconcernedoforosucho periodoasoitothinksofit."oo o V.o o Theo Maharashtrao Preventiono ofo Dangerouso Activitieso ofo Slumlords,o Bootleggers,o Drug-Offenders,o Dangerouso Personso ando Videoo PiratesoAct,o1981o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'MPDAoAct,o1981')o

12.o ActionouponotheoreportoofoAdvisoryoBoardo––o(1)oInoanyocaseowhereo theoAdvisoryoBoardohasoreportedothatothereoisoinoitsoopinionosufficientocauseo foro theo detentiono ofo ao person,o theo Stateo Governmento mayo confirmo theo detentionoorderoandocontinueotheodetentionoofotheopersonoconcernedoforosucho periodoasoitothinksofit."o o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 7oCRWP 4590 2026 o RelevantocaseoLawoRelevantocaseoLaw

7.o o Theoprecedentsogermaneotootheomatter(s)oinoissueoare,othus:o

(i)o o TheoFiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;owhileo dealingowithoSectiono11(1)oofotheoPDoAct,o1950;oinoaojudgmentotitledoaso DattatrayaoMoreshwaroVs.oStateoofoBombay,o1952oAIRoSupremeoCourto 181,ohasoheldoasounder:o "13.oxxxoxxxoxxxoInomyo opinion,otheo wordso "forosuchoperiodoasoito thinksofit"opre-supposeoandoimplyothatoafteroreceiptoofotheoreportoofotheo AdvisoryoBoardotheodetainingoauthorityohasotoomakeoupoitsomindoasotoo whetherotheooriginaloorderoofodetentionoshouldobeoconfirmedoandoifoso,o forowhatofurtheroperiodotheodetentionoisotoocontinue.oObviouslyothatoiso theoproperostageoforomakingoanoorderoorodecisionoofothisodescriptionoaso theo investigationo witho regardo too ao particularo detenuo sucho aso iso contemplatedobyotheoPreventiveoDetentionoActoisothenoatoanoendoandotheo appropriateo Governmento iso ino fullo possessiono ofo allo theo materialso regardingohim.oxxxoo xxxo xxx"o o

(ii)o o TheoFiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;owhileo dealingowithoSectiono11oofotheoPDoAct,o1950;oinoaoJudgmentotitledoaso JayanarayanoSukulovs.oStateoofoWestoBengalo1970(1)oSCCo219;ohasoheldo asounder:o o "20.o Broadlyostated,ofouroprinciplesoareotoobeofollowedoinoregardotoo representationoofodetenus.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.oSecondly,otheo considerationoofotheorepresentationoofotheodetenueobyotheoappropriateo authorityoisoentirelyoindependentoofoanyoactionobyotheoAdvisoryoBoardo includingotheoconsiderationoofotheorepresentationoofotheodetenueobyotheo Advisoryo Board.o o Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o o Ifo however,otheoGovernmentowillonotoreleaseotheodetenueotheoGovernmento willo sendo theo caseo alongo witho theo detenue'so representationo too theo Advisoryo Board.o o Ifo thereaftero theo Advisoryo Boardo willo expresso ano opiniono ino favouro ofo releaseo ofo theo detenueo theo Governmento willo releaseotheodetenue.ooIfotheoAdvisoryoBoardowilloexpressoanyoopiniono againstotheoreleaseoofotheodetenueotheoGovernmentomayostilloexerciseo theopowerotooreleaseotheodetenue."o o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 8oCRWP 4590 2026 o

(iii)o o Ao Divisiono Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Bombayo Higho Court;o whileodealingowithoSectiono12oofotheoMPCADoActo1980;ooinoaocaseotitledo asoAkshayoBhaskaroSahareovs.oStateoofoMaharashtraoandoanothero2025o SCCoOnLineoBomo6145;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "38.o Itoisothusoclearothatotheodiscretionotooconfirmoaodetentionoordero mustobeousedocarefullyoandowithoproperoreasoning.oTheoconfirmationo orderoshouldoclearlyostateowhyocontinuingotheodetentionoisonecessary,o basedo ono theo situationo ato theo timeo theo ordero iso passed.o o Theo Stateo Governmentomustoconsiderobothotheocircumstancesothatoexistedowheno theodetentionoorderowasofirstomadeounderoSectiono3,oandothoseothatoexisto atotheotimeoofoconfirmationounderoSectiono12.ooIfotheomainopurposeoofo detentionohasoalreadyobeenoachieved,otheoGovernmentoshouldoreleaseo theo person.o o Buto ifo detentiono iso too continue,o theo Governmento musto explainowhyoitoisostillonecessary,oshowingoitsosatisfactionobasedoonotheo circumstanceso expectedo too continue.o o Theo Governmento musto alsoo estimateohowolongothoseocircumstancesowilloprevailoandoaccordingly,o theoperiodoofocontinuedodetentionoprescribed."o o o

(iv)o o Ao Divisiono Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Bombayo Higho Court;o whileodealingowithoSectiono12oofotheoMPDAoAct,o1981;oinoaocaseotitledoaso RajendraprasadoGuptao@oMunnabhaio@oRajubhaioSurajlaloGuptaovs.oR.S.o Sharmaoandoothers,o2004(3)oMHLJo801;ohasoheldoasounder:o o "11.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Ino ouro viewo whethero ito beo theo stageo ofo approvalo oro considerationo ofo representationo o oro confirmation,o ono eacho occasionotheoconcernedoauthorizedoofficeroisorequiredotooapplyohisomindotoo theorelevantomaterial,owhichoisorequiredotoobeoconsideredobyolaw,oafresh.ooToo ouromindotheoreasonoforothisoisothatotheopurposeoforowhichotheoconcernedo officerolooksoatothisomaterialoonoeachoofotheseooccasionoisodifferent.ooForo example,o heo iso consideringo theo materialo foro theo purposeo ofo grantingo ano approvalo too theo detentiono order,o theo purposeo ofo whicho heo lookso ato theo relevantomaterialoplacedobeforeohimoisoinoorderotoodetermineowhetherothereoiso sufficientocauseoforodetentionoandoasotoowhetherotheodetentionoisoauthorized.oo Whenoheolooksoatotheorelevantomaterialoatotheostageoofoconfirmationoofotheo order,owhatoheoisorequiredotoobeodeterminedoisowhetheroinohisosubjectiveo opinion,otheopropensityoandopotentialityoofocommittingosimilarooffenceoexistso onotheodateoofotheopassingoofoconfirmationoorderoandohisolikelyotooextendotoo theo periodo foro whicho theo detentiono iso beingo confirmed.o o Ito mayo beo thato o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 9oCRWP 4590 2026 o materialo isotheosame.oo Atotheolaterostageoofoconfirmationothereomighto beo additionalomaterialoplacedobeforeohim.ooAtothisostages,otheoopinionoofotheo Advisoryo Boardo iso alsoo ao furthero materialo placedo beforeo him.o o Eveno aso regardsotheooriginalogroundsoofodetentionoandomaterialoandosupportothereof,o theoangleoandopurposeoforowhichoheolooksoatothisomaterialoisodifferentoatotheo stageoofoconfirmationoandohenceoinoouroview,otheomaterialoisorequiredotoobeo re-scannedoafresh."o Analysiso(reolaw)o

8.o o Ato firsto glance,o theo concepto ofo preventiveo detentiono appearso fundamentallyoantitheticalowithinotheofourocornersoofoconstitutionalodemocracyo governedobyotheoRuleoofoLaw,owhoseopreambleoandofundamentaloethosoelevatedo personalo libertyo too ao sacrosancto pinnacle.o Too incarcerateo ano individualo anteo delictoo(i.e.obeforeotheocommissionoofoanooffence)obasedoonomereoexecutiveo apprehension,o rathero thano posto delictoo (i.e.o aftero ao punitiveo trial),o sharplyo conflictsowithotheovenerableomaximolibertasoomnibusorebusofavorabilioroestoi.e.o libertyoisotoobeofavouredoaboveoallothings.oYet,oConstitutionalogovernanceoisonoto foundedouponoabstractoidealismoalone,obutoequallyouponopragmaticorealismoando theoimperativeonecessityoofopreservingotheolargerosocietaloorder.oItocannotoaffordo toodwelloinotheorealmoofodoctrinaireoabsolutism.oItowasoinorecognitionoofothiso delicateoConstitutionaloequilibriumothatotheoframersoofotheoConstitution,odespiteo theirounmatchedoreverenceoforociviloliberties,oconsciouslyoretainedoprovisionso enablingo preventiveo detention.o Theo rationaleo underlyingo sucho retentiono waso neithero accidentalo noro ornamental;o rather,o ito stemmedo fromo theo compellingo necessityo too equipo theo Stateo witho adequateo Constitutionalo 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 endangerosocietalopeaceoandowelfare.oInosuchocircumstances,otheolawocannoto affordotoolockotheostableoafterotheohorseohasobolted.oHowever,othisoinclusionowaso o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 10oCRWP 4590 2026 10 o neveroanoendorsementoofoexecutiveotyranny,obutoratheroaocalculatedoconcessiono tootheoageooldoadageosalusopopuliosupremaolexoestooi.e.otheowelfare/safetyoofotheo peopleo ino commono iso theo supremeo law,o thereby,o acknowledgingo thato theo preservationo ofo theo State'so sovereigntyo iso theo conditiono precedento too theo enjoymentoofoanyoindividualociviloright.o

8.1.o o Too forestallo thiso extraordinaryo ando inherentlyo nocuouso powero fromodegeneratingointooanoengineoofoautocraticooppression,otheoconstitutionalo schemao itselfo mandateso certaino irreducibleo safeguards,o strictissimio juriso observanceo whereof,o iso sineo quao nono foro anyo lawfulo deprivationo ofo liberty.o TheseosafeguardsoprovidedounderoArticleo22oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoareonoto merelyo perfunctoryo formalities;o rather,o theyo constituteo ano indelibleo ando substantiveo faceto ofo theo dueo processo ofo law,o theo non-complianceo whereofo rendersotheounderlyingoproceedingsonulloandovoidoandotheoresultantodetentiono fundamentallyoillegal.oInothisosensitiveointersectionoofoStateosecurity/onationalo welfareoandoindividualofreedom,otheolawodemandsostrictissmiojuris,oadherenceo witho theseo proceduralo safeguards,o foro wheno theo Stateo operateso outo ofo theo shadowsoofosuspicion/oapprehensionoofofutureotransgression(s)oratherothanotheo lighto ofo evidence,o thiso proceduralo shieldo remainso theo detenue'so soleo refugeo againsto executiveo overreach.o Ao failureo too scrupulouslyo observeo theseo Constitutionalodictatesodoesonotomerelyoconstituteovenialotechnicaloirregularity;o itotantamountotooaoflagrantoviolationoofoArticleo21,oasotheoprocedureoestablishedo byo lawo becomeso ao mereo hollowo shello ifo itso foundationalo safeguardso areo bypassedo oro diluted.o Consequently,o anyo statuteo providingo foro preventiveo detentiono must,o aso ao conditiono precedento too itso validity,o incorporateo theseo minimumosafeguardsotooensureotheyoareonotosubvertedobyoadministrativeoipseo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 11oCRWP 4590 2026 11 o o o Amongstotheoconstellationoofosafeguards,oArticleo22(4)oservesoaso ano institutionalo check,o byo necessitatingo theo constitutiono ofo ano independento AdvisoryoBoardotooscrutiniseoanyoproposaloforoextendingodetentionobeyondotheo periodoofo3omonths.oTheoroleoofoAdvisoryoBoardoisonotomerelyoadvisoryoino natureo ino colloquialo sense,o ito functionso aso ao quasi-judicialo bulwark,o ao sieveo throughowhichotheoexecutive'sosubjectiveosatisfactionomustopass.oThisoisofurthero complementedobyoArticleo22(5),owhichoimposesoanoobligationotoofurnishotheo groundsoofodetention,oasosoonoasomayobeoandotooaffordotheodetenueotheoearliesto opportunityoofomakingoaorepresentation.oThisorightotoorepresentationoisonotoao hollow,oformalisticoritualobutoaosubstantiveoentitlementothatocarriesotheoimpliedo requirementoofoexpeditiousoconsiderationoandodisposalothereofobyotheoStateoinoao judiciousomanner,oeschewingoanyomechanicalooroperfunctoryoapproach,olest,oito mayoconstituteoaofatalofractureoinotheoprocedureoestablishedobyolaw,oandorenderso theodetentionovulnerableoforoArticleo21oscrutiny.o

8.2.o o Theo architecturalo blueprinto ofo theseo Constitutionalo safeguardso findso statutoryo expressiono ino Sectiono 9o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act.o Sectiono 9(a)o providesoforotheomanneroinowhichotheoAdvisoryoBoardoisotoobeoconstitutedoando Sectiono 9(b)o furthero tightenso theo proceduralo nooseo byo mandatingo thato theo Appropriateo Governmento makeo ao formalo referenceo too theo Advisoryo Boardo withinofiveoweeksofromodetention,ouponoreceiptowhereof,otheoAdvisoryoBoardo entersointooaodeliberativeophase;otranscendingoaomereoreviewoofotheorecordotoo consideroallorelevanto materialoandoanyosuchofurthero information,o asodeemedo necessary;o judicially.o Thiso processo culminateso intoo ao reporto undero articleo 22(4)(a),owherein,oforotheodetentionotoobeocontinuedoandolawful,otheoAdvisoryo Boardomustohaveoarrivedoatoaocategoricalofindingoasotoowhetherothereoexistso 'sufficientocause'oforotheocontinuedoincarcerationoofotheoindividual.o o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 12oCRWP 4590 2026 12 o

8.3.o o TheofinalityoandopotencyoofotheoAdvisoryoBoard'sodeterminationo findotheirostatutoryoanchorageoinoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,oaoprovisiono thatomirrorsotheomandateoofoArticleo22(4)(a).oSectiono9(f)oenvisagesoaostark,o binaryostatutoryoschema:ofirstly,oshouldotheoAdvisoryoBoardoreportoaodeficitoofo sufficiento cause,o theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authority'so discretionaryoveneeroisosummarilyostrippedoaway,oandoitoisounderoanoexacting,o mandatoryoobligationotoorevokeotheodetentionoorderoandoeffectuateoimmediateo releaseo ofo theo subject.o Conversely,o whereo theo Advisoryo Boardo reportso theo existenceoofo'sufficientocause'otheostatutoryolanguageoshiftsofromotheomandatoryo 'shall'o too permissiveo 'may'.o Thiso shifto fromo mandatoryo 'shall'o (ino caseo ofo'shall' 'may'.o 'shall'o negativeoopinionobyotheoAdvisoryoBoard)otootheopermissiveo'may'o(inocaseoofo positiveo opiniono byo theo Advisoryo Board)ocreateso aosignificanto jurisdictionalo pause.o Thiso linguistico nuanceo signalso thato theo Advisoryo Board'so positiveo opinionoisoanoenablingofactor,obutonotoaocompellingofactoroforotheoAppropriateo Government/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityotoomechanicallyocomplyowithoit.oTheofiveo Judgeo Benchoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeo Courto inoJayanarayanoSukulo(supra);o whileointerpretingoSectiono11(1)oofotheoPDoAct,o1950,oprovisionsowhereofoareo inopariomateriaowithoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSo oAct,oobservedothatotheo government'so considerationo ofo ao detenue'so representationo iso entirelyo autonomousoandoindependentoofoanyoactionoororeviewobyotheoAdvisoryo Board.o Whileo ao negativeo reporto fromo theo Advisoryo Boardo leaveso theo governmento withonoo choiceobutotooimmediatelyo releaseo theo detenue,oao positiveo reporto fromo theo Advisoryo Boardo iso noto binding,o ando theo governmento retainso theo ultimate,o independento powero too exerciseo itso discretionoandoreleaseotheodetenue.oFurthermore,otheoDivisionoBenchoofo theoHon'bleoBombayoHighoCourtoinoRajendraprasadoGuptao(supra)oheldo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 13oCRWP 4590 2026 13 o thatotheoauthorizedoofficeromustoapplyohisomindoandoscanotheorelevanto materialo completelyo afresho ato eacho distincto stage,o whethero duringo approval,oconsiderationooforepresentation,ooroconfirmation;obecauseotheo 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 materialoandoindeed,overbatimowithoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct.o Consequently,otheoratioodecidendioofotheosaidojudgmentodirectlyogovernso theostatutoryointerpretationorequiredoherein.oo

8.4.o o AobareoperusaloofoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,orevealso thatotheoAppropriateoGovernment/ConfirmatoryoAuthorityoisothusovestedowithoao dualo discretion:o firstly,o ito musto adjudicateo upono theo necessityo ofo continuedo incarcerationonotwithstandingotheoAdvisoryoBoard'sopositiveorecommendation;o ando secondly,o shouldo theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authorityo choseotooconfirmofurtherodetention,oitomustojudiciouslyocalibrateotheotemporalo extentoofosuchodetention.oAofiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 14oCRWP 4590 2026 14 o Dattatrayao (supra);o whileo dealingo witho Sectiono 11o ofo theo PDo Act,o 1950,oDattatraya provisionso whereofo areo verbatimo witho Sectiono 9(f)o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act,o observedothatotheophraseo'forosuchoperiodoasoitothinksofit'omandatesotheo detainingo authority,o upono receivingo theo Advisoryo Board'so report,o too independentlyodecideowhetherotooconfirmotheodetentionoandodetermineoitso specificofutureoduration.oThisodualodiscretionoisoneitheroornamentaloflourisho noroaolicenseoforoexecutiveocaprice.oSimilarly,otheoexerciseoofodiscretionobyoano administrativeo authority,o particularlyo ino theo sensitiveo theatreo ofo preventiveo detention,oisoneveroanounfetteredolicenseoforoindividualowhim,orather,oitoisoao legalopoweroheldoinotrust,otoobeoexercisedowithinotheorigorousoperimetersoofotheo RuleoofoLaw.oTheostatutoryoemploymentoofotheowordo'may'oandoofophraseo 'forosuchoperiodoasoitothinksofit'oinoSectiono9(f)oofotheoPITNDPSoAct,oiso notoanoinvestmentoofounfetteredooroabsoluteopower;orather,oitosignifiesotheo vestingoofoaohighlyostructuredolegalodiscretionotoobeoexercisedosecundumo arbitriumo bonio virio (i.e.o accordingo too theo judgmento ofo ao soundo persono guidedobyolawoandoreason).oToosatisfyotheoconstitutionaloconscienceoando withstando theo exactingo scrutinyo ofo Articleo 21,otheoConfirmationo Ordero mustostandoasoanoarticulate,oself-containedotestamentotootheoauthority'so intellectualo engagement,o constitutingo ao speakingo ordero ex-facie.o Theo independento applicationo ofo mindo byo theo Appropriateo Government/o ConfirmatoryoAuthorityocannotobeoaomatteroofoabstractopresumptionooro post-factoorationalization;oitomustobeodemonstrablyomanifestedowithinotheo fouro cornerso ofo theo confirmationo ordero itself.o Wheno theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authorityo receiveso ao positiveo opiniono fromo theo AdvisoryoBoard,oitodoesonotoactoasoaomereopassiveorecordingomachineooroao mechanicalo conduit.o Theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authorityo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 15oCRWP 4590 2026 15 o musto demonstrateo ano independento subjectiveo satisfaction,o regardingo theo continuationo aso alsoo theo durationo ofo theo detention,o whicho necessitateso ano exhaustiveo intellectualo engagemento witho theo entireo dossiero ofo theo detenue;o positiveoopinionoofotheoAdvisoryoBoardoconstitutesomerelyoaopartoofotheowhole,o whereof.oo o o Ergo,o theo Confirmatoryo Authorityo remainso legallyo boundo too conductoanoexhaustive,oindependentoreviewoofotheoentireodossier,obalancingotheo personalolibertyoofotheodetenueoagainstotheosocietaloexigenciesocontemplatedobyo theoPITNDPSoAct.oIfotheofinaloconfirmationoorderolacksoaodiscernibleonarrativeo ofoindependentoreasoning,ooroifoitofailsotooexplicitlyojustifyotheotemporaloextento ofo theo detentiono witho qualitativeo reasonso rathero thano ao mereo quantitativeo declaration,o ito degenerateso intoo ao mereo ipseo dixito ofo theo executive.o Ao perfunctoryooroboilerplate/mechanicaloorderothatomimicsotheoAdvisoryoBoard'so conclusionsowithoutoindependentoanalysisosuffersofromoaofatalonon-applicationo ofo mind.o Sucho ano infirmityo goeso too theo rooto ofo theo Appropriateo Government/Confirmatoryo Authority'so jurisdiction,o renderingo theo resultanto confirmationoorderoultraovires,ovoidoaboinitio,oandoaoflagrantoinfractionoofotheo proceduralosafeguardsoguaranteedounderoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution,oasotheo procedureoestablishedobyolawobecomesoaomereohollowoshelloifoitsofoundational,o reasonedosafeguardsoareobypassedoorodiluted.oTheoDivisionoBenchooofotheo Hon'bleoBombayoHighoCourtoinoAkshayoBhaskaroSahareo(supra);owhileoAkshayoBhaskaroSahareo dealingowithoSectiono12oofotheoMPDAoAct,o1981,oprovisionsowhereofoareo ino pario materiao witho Sectiono 9(f)o ofo theo PITNDPSo Act,o heldo thato theo discretionotooconfirmopreventiveodetentionomustobeoexercisedocarefullyo throughoaoreasonedoorderothatoevaluatesobothotheoinitialocircumstancesoando theosituationo prevailingoatotheo timeo ofo confirmation.o Ifo theopurposeoofo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 16oCRWP 4590 2026 16 o detentionohasobeenoachieved,otheodetenueomustobeoreleased;ohowever,oifo extensionoisonecessary,otheoGovernmentomustoexplicitlyoexplainowhyotheo threatopersists,oestimateohowolongothoseocircumstancesowilloprevail,oando calibrateotheoperiodoofocontinuedodetentionoaccordingly.o o o

9.o o Aso ao sequittero too theo aboveo rumination,o theo followingo postulatesoemerge:o

(i)o 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

(ii)o o Theo Appropriateo Government/o Confirmatoryo Authorityo cannototreatoaopositive/affirmativeoopinionoofotheoAdvisoryoBoardoasoao mechanicalomandateoforocontinuedoincarceration.oTheoAdvisoryoBoard'so findingo iso merelyo ao componento ofo theo evidentiaryo matrix,o ando noto itso entirety.oTheoAppropriateoGovernment/oConfirmatoryoAuthorityoremainso legallyo boundo too conducto ano autonomous,o exhaustiveo reviewo ofo theo detenue'so entireo dossier,o formingo itso owno independento subjectiveo satisfactiono rathero thano passivelyo adoptingo theo Advisoryo Board'so conclusions.o

(iii)o 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 o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 17oCRWP 4590 2026 17 o Independento applicationo ofo mindo cannoto beo presumedo oro rationalizedo post-facto;oitomustobeodemonstrablyomanifestedowithinotheofourocornersoofo theo order,o explicitlyo providingo clear,o cogento reasoningo foro botho theo confirmationoitselfoandotheospecificodurationoprescribed.o

(iv)o o Anyo confirmationo ordero thato actso aso ao perfunctoryo rubbero stampooroaomechanical/boilerplateoreplicationoofotheoAdvisoryoBoard'so opinionosuffersofromoaofatalonon-applicationoofomind.oByofailingotoovisiblyo projecto independento analysiso ando qualitativeo reasons,o theo ordero degenerateso intoo ao mereo executiveo ipseo dixit.o Thiso proceduralo fractureo goesotootheorootoofojurisdiction,othereby,orenderingotheoconfirmationoordero unsustainable.o Analysisore:ofactsoofotheopresentocaseoo

10.o o Aoperusaloofotheoimpugnedoconfirmationoorderoreflectsothato thereo iso noo independento applicationo ofo mindo byo theo confirmatory/o appropriateo government,o whicho is,o indubitably,o reflectedo fromo theo relevantopartoofotheosaidoorder,owhichoreadsothus:o "Andonow,otherefore,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredobyo sectiono9(1)oreadowithosectiono11oofotheoActo1988,otheodetentionoordero ofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghoIssuedovideoorderodatedo

07.01.2026o iso herebyo confirmedo ando ito iso furthero directedo thato theo periodoofodetentionoofoSh.oJasbiroSinghoaliasoKalaoS/ooBhagoSinghoR/oo VillageoMalikpura,oP.S.oOdhan,oPoliceoDistrictoDabwali,oHaryanaoino pursuanceoofotheoaforesaidodetentionoorderoshallobeosixomonthofromotheo dateoofohisodetentionoi.e.o08.01.2026."o o o o Theo impugnedo confirmationo ordero doeso noto reflecto anyo reasononeitheroforoconfirmingotheodetentionoorderonoroforotheoperiodoforo whicho theo detentiono ordero haso beeno passed.o Ergo,o theo sameo iso sanso reasoning,o whicho iso requiredo too beo comingo fortho fromo ano ordero undero challenge.o Thus,o theo impugnedo confirmationo ordero deserveso too beo o CRWP-4590-2026o o o o o o 18oCRWP 4590 2026 18 o DecisionooDecision o o o Inotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

i)o Theoimpugnedoconfirmationoordero(orderodatedo05.03.2026opassedo byotheoAdditionaloChiefoSecretaryotootheoGovernmentoofoHaryana,oHomeo Department),oisoherebyoquashed.oo

ii)o Theo petitionero iso directedo too beo seto ato liberty,o forthwith,o ifo noto requiredoinoanyootherocase.o

iii)o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshallostandodisposedoof.o

iv)o Registryoisodirectedotootransmitoaocopyoofotheoinstantoorderotootheo Homeo Secretary(s)o foro theo Stateso ofo Haryana,o Punjabo aso alsoo U.T.,o Chandigarh.oo o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Mayo20,o2026o Ajay/mahaviroo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo o