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MANEKA GANDHI CASE
This judgment played a significant role toward Article 21 of the constitution. Many fundamental rights were introduced in constitution of India after this judgment came into observation.
This case is always read and linked with A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras case, because this case revolves around the concept of “personal liberty” which first came up in the A.K. Gopalan’s case.
JUDGES DURING THE JUDGEMENT-
This case was decided by a 7-judge bench of the Supreme Court in 1978.
The division of bench comprise of:
- BEG, M. Hameedullah (CJ)
- P.N. Bhagwati.
- Y.V. Chandrachud.
- V.R. Krishna Iyer.
- N.L. Untwalia.
- P.S. Kai asam.
- Murtaza Fazal Ali.
FACTS OF THE CASE–
The factual summary of this case is as follows-
Maneka Gandhi was issued a passport on 1/06/1976 under the Passport Act 1967. The regional passport officer, New Delhi, issued a letter dated 2/7/1977 addressed to Maneka Gandhi, in which she was asked to surrender her passport under section 10(3)(c)of the Act in public interest, within 7 days from the date of receipt of the letter.
Maneka Gandhi immediately wrote a letter to the Regional Passport officer, New Delhi seeking in return a copy of the statement of reasons for such order. However, the government of India, Ministry of External Affairs refused to produce any such reason in the interest of general public.
Later, a writ petition was filed by Maneka Gandhi under Article 32 of the Constitution in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the government of India as violating her fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
ISSUES OF THE CASE–
The main issues of this case were:-
- Whether right to go abroad is a part of right to personal liberty under Article 21.
- Whether the Passport Act prescribes a ‘procedure’ as required by Article 21 before depriving a person from the right guaranteed under the said article.
- Whether the impugned order of the Regional passport officer is in contravention of the principle of natural justice.
- Whether section 10(3) (c) of the Passport Act is violate of Article 14, 19(1) (a) and 21of the constitution.
JUDGEMNT OF THE CASE: –
To the extent to which section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act, 1967 authorizes the passport authority to impound a passport “in the interest of the general public”, it is violate of Article 14 of the Constitution since it confers vague and undefined power on the passport authority.
Section 10(3) (c) is void as conferring an arbitrary power since it does not provide for a hearing to the holder of the passport before the passport is impounded.
Section 10(3)(c) is violate of Article 21 of the Constitution since it does not prescribe ‘procedure’ within the meaning of that article and the procedure practiced is worst.
Section 10(3)(c) is against Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) since it permits restrictions to be imposed on the rights guaranteed by these articles even though such restrictions cannot be imposed under articles 19(2) and 19(6).
A new doctrine of post decisional theory was evolved.
One of the significant interpretation in this case is the discovery of inter connections between the three Articles- Article 14, 19 and 21. This a law which prescribes a procedure for depriving a person of “personal liberty” has to fulfill the requirements of Articles 14 and 19 also.
It was finally held by the court that the right to travel and go outside the country is included in the right to personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21. The Court ruled that the mere existence of an enabling law was not enough to restrain personal liberty. Such a law must also be “just, fair and reasonable”.
References:
- K. Gopalan v. The State
- Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)
- Constitution of India, D.D. BASU,
- Indian Constitutional law, M.P. Jain
- The law of Constitution, Dicey
Conclusion
Hence to conclude, it may be said that Maneka Gandhi’s case, gave the term ‘personal liberty’ widest possible interpretation and gave effect to the intention of the drafters of the Constitution. This case, while adding a whole new dimension to the concept of ‘personal liberty’, extended the protection of Art. 14 to the personal liberty of every person and additional protection of Art. 19 to the personal liberty of every citizen.
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