The former Karnataka High Court Judge B. Padmaraj asked the police to be careful while invoking acts such as the ‘Goonda’ Act and ensure that the constitutional rights related to preventive detention are protected.
Addressing the police officers, Mr. Padmaraj said the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act (popularly know as Goonda) Act 1985 dealt with constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 22. “The courts will not tolerate any lapse with regard to the adherence of the constitutional rights,” he said. The courts would verify whether the police followed the necessary procedures.
Mr. Padmaraj was inaugurating the workshop on the Act for select police officers from Mangalore city, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada police. Principal District and Sessions Judge Ashok Nijagannavar and other judges from Dakshina Kannada were invited to the programme.
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Deputy Commissioner N. Prakash and Additional Deputy Commissioner K.A. Dayananda took part. The media was barred from attending the workshop.
Mr. Padmaraj said the courts would intervene when it came to life and liberty of a person. “If you follow procedures properly no court can quash such orders. But we have to remember everyone is equal before the law,” he said. The provisions of Goonda Act were meant to protect society from the onslaught of criminals, he added.
Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) C.H. Pratap Reddy and Mr. Nijagannavar spoke.
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