Supreme Court Quashes Mulla Afroz's NSA Detention, Imposes ₹10 Lakh Costs on Uttar Pradesh

The Supreme Court quashed the National Security Act detention of Mulla Afroz in the Sambhal violence case and imposed ₹10 lakh costs on Uttar Pradesh.

What happened

The Supreme Court quashed the National Security Act detention of Mulla Afroz in the Sambhal violence case and imposed ₹10 lakh costs on Uttar Pradesh. Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu held that an alleged confession could not, by itself, justify preventive detention and that surrounding circumstances and relevant material had to be considered. The Court found the detention power had been exercised unlawfully, set aside the detention order, its confirmation and the Allahabad High Court judgment upholding it. The ruling reinforces strict judicial scrutiny of extraordinary preventive powers and requires detention authorities to base subjective satisfaction on legally relevant material.

Legal significance

The legal effect is confined to the present judgment, order or procedural development. Party allegations and submissions are not treated as established facts.

Practical consequence

The matter proceeds according to the operative direction, statutory process or next hearing described above.

Source: Original report