Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹25,000 as compensation to a man who was illegally detained by police for nearly 24 hours, while strongly criticizing the conduct of officials involved. The court held that unlawful deprivation of liberty by a police officer acting under state authority violates constitutional protections under Article 21.
Petitioner Detained For Nearly 24 Hours
A division bench of Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Sanjay Kumar passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by Matamber Mishra. The petitioner alleged that he was illegally detained from November 26 to November 27, 2022, without lawful justification.
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The court noted that the police officials concerned did not specifically deny the allegation of unlawful detention in their counter affidavit. This weighed heavily in the court’s assessment of the case.
The bench observed that personal liberty cannot be casually interfered with, particularly by officials entrusted with enforcing the law. It said state power must remain within legal limits and any deviation amounts to a breach of constitutional duty.
Court Questions Culture Of Impunity
In its observations, the High Court said enforcement agencies often function under the belief that wrongful detentions will either go unreported or remain unchallenged. It noted that only a small section of affected citizens approach courts, often because many others are restrained by fear or lack of legal awareness.
The bench remarked that when citizens do assert their rights, courts must ensure accountability and enforce constitutional safeguards in their true spirit. It said repeated violations of personal liberty cannot be treated lightly.
The court also observed that policy declarations and judicial pronouncements are not enough unless implemented effectively on the ground. It raised concern over outdated practices continuing within sections of law enforcement.
State May Recover Amount From Officer
While granting relief, the bench directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹25,000 as compensation to the petitioner and imposed ₹10,000 as additional costs. The court clarified that the state would be free to recover the compensation amount from the concerned police officer, Surya Prakash Dubey.
Dubey was then posted as in-charge of a police outpost under Handia police station in Prayagraj. The court’s order was also directed to be communicated to senior administrative and police authorities, including the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj.
The ruling reinforces the principle that violations of individual liberty cannot be treated as routine administrative lapses. By allowing recovery from the officer concerned, the court underlined that accountability must extend beyond the state to officials responsible for unlawful action.
