From the Archives (May 3, 1919): ‘Independent’ Security Case.

In connection with Rs. 2000 security demanded from the ‘Independent’, the Hon’ble Pandit Motilal Nehru, who represented Pandit Shamlal Nehru, keeper accompanied by Mr. Syed Hussain, editor, attended the court of the District Magistrate [in Allahabad] and presented a petition praying for the withdrawal of the order. The Hon’ble Pandit argued at length that the Court had no jurisdiction to pass the order. The Magistrate in rejecting the application said: If we turn to the plain meaning of the words of the section there is not the slightest reason for supposing that the words “may from time to time vary any order under section” refer only to the orders calling for security and not the orders dispensing for special reasons with security.