- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA KALABURAGI BENCH DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN WRIT PETITION NO.200183 OF 2024 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: ASWATH @ ASWATHRAM S/O TUKARAM RATHOD, AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: ADVOCATE R/O TUKARAM NAYAK STATION TANDA, WARD NO.7 CHITTAPUR DIST. KALABURAGI-585211 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AVINASH A. UPLOANKAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SUB-DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE AND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER SEDAM, SUB-DIVISION SEDAM, O/O ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OFFICE MAIN ROAD SEDAM, TQ. SEDAM DIST. KALABURAGI-585222. 2. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE SHAHABAD SUB-DIVISION, DIST. KALABURAGI-585228. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MALLIKARJUN SAHUKAR, AGA FOR R1 AND R2) Digitally signed by VARSHA N RASALKAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT OR ORDER OF CERTIORARI BY QUASH THE IMPUGNED ENQUIRY NOTICE DATED 19-12- 2023 BEARING NO. KAM/MAG/14/2023-24/1803, ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO. 1 AS PER ANNEXURE- A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN) The petitioner in instant writ petition has challenged a notice issued to him under Section 58 of the Karnataka Police Act (Vide Annexure-A to the writ petition). 2. The impugned notice reads as under: PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀ PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ ¸ÉÃqÀA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 zÀÆgÀªÁt ¸ÀASÉå:08441-276073 ¥ÁåPÀì ¸ÀASÉå:08441- 276073 Email:acsedam@gmail.com ¸ÀA/PÀA/JAJf/14/2023-24/1803 ¢£ÁAPÀ:19.12.2023 :«ZÁgÀuÁ £ÉÆÃn¸ÀÄì: «µÀAiÀÄ: avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ ¥ÉÆð¸ï oÁuÉAiÀÄ gËr ²lgÀ£ÁzÀ C±ÀéxÀsÀ @ C±ÀéxÀgÁªÀÄ vÀAzÉ vÀÄPÁgÁªÀÄ gÁqsÉÆÃqÀ ªÀ: 33 ªÀµÀð eÁw:®A¨Át G: ªÁå¥ÁgÀ ¸Á: ¸ÉÖõÀ£ï vÁAqÁ avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ vÁ:avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ, f: PÀ®§ÄgÀV, EvÀ¤UÉ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¥ÉÆð¸ï PÁAiÉÄÝ-1963 PÀ®A 55 CrAiÀÄ°è UÀr¥ÁgÀÄ ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ §UÉÎ. G¯ÉèÃR: ¥ÉÆð¸ï G¥À C¢üÃPÀëPÀgÀÄ G¥À «¨sÁUÀ ±ÀºÁ¨ÁzÀ gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÀvÀæ ¸ÀASÉå:626UÀr¥ÁgÀÄ/J¸ï.J¸ï./r/2023, ¢£ÁAPÀ: 30.11.2023. PÀ®§ÄgÀV f¯ÉèAiÀÄ avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ ¥ÉÆð¸ï oÁuÉAiÀÄ gËr ²lgÀ£ÁzÀ C±ÀéxÀ @ C±ÀéxÀgÁªÀÄ vÀAzÉ vÀÄPÁgÁªÀÄ gÁoÉÆÃqÀ ªÀ: 33 ªÀµÀð eÁ:®A¨Át G: ªÁå¥ÁgÀ ¸Á: ¸ÉÖõÀ£ï vÁAqÁ avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ vÁ: avÁÛ¥ÀÄgÀ. f: PÀ®§ÄgÀV EvÀ¤UÉ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¥ÉÆð¸ï PÁAiÉÄÝ-1963 PÀ®A 55 CrAiÀÄ°è UÀr¥ÁgÀÄ ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä G¯ÉèÃR(1) gÀ C£ÀéAiÀÄ ¥Àæ¸ÁÛªÀ£É ¸À°è¸À¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÀÄÄAzÀĪÀgÉzÀÄ ¤ªÀÄä «gÀÄzÀÝ UÀr¥ÁgÀÄ DzÉñÀ ºÉÆgÀr¸ÀĪÀ ¥ÀƪÀð PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¥ÉÆð¸ï DPïÖ 1963—PÀ®A 55 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 56 CrAiÀÄ°è F PÀÄjvÀÄ ¤ªÀÄä C©ü¥ÁæAiÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ªÀÄvÀÄÛ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸À°è¸À®Ä ¢£ÁAPÀ 28.12.2023 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀÄzÁåºÀß 3.00 UÀAmÉUÉ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ G¥À«¨sÁUÀ zÀAqÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÉÃqÀA gÀªÀgÀ £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ°è «ZÁgÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¤UÀ¢ü¥Àr¸À¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ¤UÀ¢ü¥Àr¹gÀĪÀ ¢£ÁAPÀPÉÌ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀjAiÀiÁV ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ G¥À«¨sÁUÀ zÀAqÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÉÃqÀA gÀªÀgÀ £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ°è RÄzÁÝV E®èªÉà £ÁåAiÀĪÁ¢UÀ¼À ªÀÄÄSÁAvÀgÀ ¤ªÀÄä «gÀÄzÀÝ ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁzÀ DgÉÆÃ¥ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤gÁPÀj¸ÀĪÀ ¥ÀÆgÀPÀ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼ÀÄ EzÀÝgÉÃ, CªÀÅUÀ¼À eÉÆvÉUÉ «ZÁgÀuÉUÉ ºÁdgÁUÀ®Ä - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 ¸ÀÆa¹zÉ. vÀ¦àzÀ°è ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è vÀªÀÄä ºÉýPÉ K£ÀÄ EgÀĪÀÅ¢®èªÉAzÀÄ ¨sÁ«¹ KPÀ¥ÀQëÃAiÀĪÁV «ZÁgÀuÉ PÉÊUÉƼÀî¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. G¥À«¨sÁUÀ zÀAqÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ ¸ÉÃqÀA G¥À-«¨sÁUÀ ¸ÉÃqÀA. 3. Both the petitioner as well as the learned Addl. Government Advocate admit that the said notice has been issued under Section 58 of the Act. 4. The petitioner contends that the notice does not specify the general nature of material allegations against him and for that reason he submits that the notice has not been issued in accordance with law and the same is liable to be set aside. 5. The learned Addl. Government Advocate is unable to point out as to what is the nature of the allegations made against the petitioner in the notice. However, he submits that the petitioner is a danger element in the society and the state reasonably apprehends that he might commit offence and hence, the impugned notice has been issued. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 6. Section 55 of the Act pertains to removal of persons about to commit the offence and Section 56 of the Act pertains to removal of persons convicted about certain offences on the ground that he is likely to commit some offences in the given area. When proceedings are initiated under Sections 55 and 56 of the Act, hearing has to be given to the said person by issuing a notice as contemplated under Section 58 of the Act. 7. Section 58 of the Act reads as under: 58. Hearing to be given before an order is passed under section 54, 55 or 56.— (1) Before an order under Section 54, 55 or 56 is passed against any person, the officer acting under any of the said sections or any officer above the rank of an Inspector authorised by that officer shall inform the person in writing of the general nature of the material allegations against him and give him a reasonable opportunity of tendering an explanation regarding them. If such person makes an application for the examination of any witness produced by him, the authority or officer concerned shall grant such application and examine such witness, unless for reasons to be recorded in writing the authority or officer is of opinion that such application is made for the purpose of vexation or delay. Any written statement put in by such person shall be filed with the record of the case. Such person shall be entitled to appear before the officer proceeding under this section by a legal practitioner for the purposes of tendering his explanation and examining the witnesses produced by him. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 (2) The authority or officer proceeding under sub- section (1) may, for the purpose of securing the attendance of any person against whom any order is proposed to be made under section 54, 55 or 56 require such person to appear before him and to furnish a security bond with or without sureties for such attendance during the inquiry. If the person fails to furnish the security bond as required or fails to appear before the officer or authority during the inquiry, it shall be lawful to the officer or authority to proceed with the inquiry and thereupon such order as was proposed to be passed against him may be passed. 8. Thus, when notice is issued under Section 58 of the Act, the Authorized Officer shall inform the person to whom the notice was issued, in writing, the general nature of the material allegations against him and give him reasonable opportunity to give necessary reply. In the instant case, the notice of enquiry does not state the general nature of material allegations against the petitioner. Though a reference is made to a letter of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, the petitioner contends that the copy of the same is not produced to him, which is not disputed by the learned Addl. Government Advocate. 9. Under the circumstances, it has to be construed that the impugned notice issued to the - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-K:2779 WP No. 200183 of 2024 petitioner is not inconformity with the provisions of Section 58 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 and hence, the same is liable to be set aside. 10. Hence, the following: ORDER The impugned notice dated 18.12.2023 bearing No.Kam/MAG/14/2023-24/1803 issued by respondent No.1 (Annexure-A of the writ petition) is hereby set aside. It is needless to state that if the conduct of the petitioner requires initiation of the proceedings under any provisions of law, the authorities concerned are at liberty to proceed against him in accordance of law. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE SMP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26 CT:SI