prashant bhushan 66a submissions- common cause

8/10/2019 Prashant Bhushan 66A Submissions- Common Cause

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 21 OF 2013

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION

In the mtte! "#$

Common Cause & Anr PetitionerVe!%&%

Union of Inia Res!onent

SHORT NOTE ON 'EHALF OF THE PETITIONER ON THE

CONSTITUTIONAL VALIDIT OF A OF I.T. ACT* 2000

"# T$ese su%missions are %ein fi'e 'imite on t$e issue of t$e

(onstitutiona' )a'iit* of Se(tion ++A of t$e Information Te($no'o*

A(t, -...# Petitioner see/s 'i%ert* to aress t$e ot$er issues raise

in t$e 0rit !etition se!arate'*# T$ere is (onsiera%'e e)ien(e of t$e

ross $uman ri$ts )io'ations in t$e form of arrests an t$reats uner

t$is Se(tion, as 0e'' as its ($i''in effe(t on free s!ee($# Various

!etitioners $a)e a'rea* !'a(e a fe0 su($ instan(es on t$e re(or in

t$e instant !ro(eeins# T$ese su%missions, $o0e)er, are 'imite to

t$e issue of un(onstitutiona'it* of t$e se(tion from a reain of its %are

!ro)isions#

Re%t!+,t+"n% &n-e! Se,t+"n A !e /&e* /ene! n- e%t+,

-# T$e issue of )aueness renerin a statute un(onstitutiona' 0as

(onsiere %* t$is 1on2%'e Court in t$e (ase of A#3 Ro* )# Union of

Inia "45- AIR 6".# 7$i'e eterminin 0$et$er t$e e8!ressions in

t$e 'a0 0ere )aue, enera' an e'asti(, t$is 1on2%'e Court

o%ser)e9 :The impossibility of framing a definition with

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mathematical precision cannot either justify the use of vague

expressions or the total failure to frame any definition at all which

can furnish, by its inclusiveness at least, a safe guideline for

understanding the meaning of the expressions used by the

legislature

The requirement that crimes must be defined with

appropriate definiteness is regarded as a fundamental concept

in criminal law and must now be regarded as a pervading

theme of our Constitutionsince the decision in Maneka Gandhi v.

nion of !ndia "#$%&'()*+(# . The underlying principle is that

every person is entitled to be informed as to what the )tate

commands or forbids and that the life and liberty of a person

cannot be put in peril on an ambiguity;

5"

$as in !assin o%ser)e t$at :it cannot be said as an absolute

principle that no law will be considered bad for sheer vagueness.

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There is ample authority for the proposition that a law affecting

fundamental rights may be so considered.;

># In t$e Unite States an* (rimina' statue 0$i($ 'a(/s ('arit* or is

un(ertain is $e' to %e )oi on rouns of )aueness as it offens

t$e Due Pro(ess C'ause# vagueness may be from uncertainty in

regard to persons within the scope of the act . . . or in regard to the

applicable tests to ascertain guilt# =usser )# Uta$, 5# :-agueness may invalidate a criminal law for

either of two independent reasons. irst, it may fail to provide the

kind of notice that will enable ordinary people to understand what

conduct it prohibits/ second, it may authori0e and even encourage

arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. Chicago v. Morales 527

U.S. 41 (1999) :!t is a basic principle of due process that an

enactment is void for vagueness if its prohibitions are not clearly

defined. -ague laws offend several important values. irst,

because we assume that man is free to steer between lawful and

unlawful conduct, we insist that laws give the person of ordinary

intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so

that he may act accordingly. -ague laws may trap the innocent by

not providing fair warning. )econd, if arbitrary and discriminatory

enforcement is to be prevented, laws must provide explicit

standards for those who apply them. 1 vague law impermissibly

delegates basic policy matters to policemen, judges, and juries for

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resolution on an ad hoc and subjective basis, with the attendant

dangers of arbitrary and discriminatory application. Third, but

related, where a vague statute 2abut"s' upon sensitive areas of

basic irst 1mendment freedoms,2 it 2operates to inhibit the

exercise of "those' freedoms.2 ncertain meanings inevitably lead

citi0ens to 23steer far wider of the unlawful 0one4 . . . than if the

boundaries of the forbidden areas were clearly marked.; Gra*ne )#

Cit* of Ro(/for, >.5 U#S# ".> @"46-#

# In 'i$t of 'a0 'ai o0n a%o)e it is su%mitte t$at t$e e8!ressions

use in Se(tion ++ A :ross'* offensi)e;, :mena(in ($ara(ter;,

:anno*an(e;, :in(on)enien(e;, :aner;, :o%stru(tion;, :insu't;,

:inFur*;, :enmit*;, :$atre;, or :i''0i''; are )aue ,e'asti( an

enera'# In t$e a%sen(e of an* !re(ise efinition, 'imitation or

('arifi(ation as to t$e e8tent an t$e s(o!e of ea($ of t$e

e8!ressions, it is im!ossi%'e for a man of reasona%'e inte''ien(e to

!re(ise'* as(ertain 0$at (onu(t is !ro$i%ite uner Se(tion ++A#

+# T$e rie)an(e $erein is not un(ertaint* a%out t$e (ommon meanin

of t$ese 0ors %ut as to t$e ('ear etermination of 0$at (onu(t is

(o)ere uner ea($ of t$ese e8!ressions i)en t$e enera' nature

of t$ese e8!ressions# It is t$e 'eis'ature2s fai'ure to istinuis$

%et0een inno(ent (onu(t an (onu(t 0$i($ is sou$t to %e

!ena'i?e uner t$is C'ause t$at is sou$t to %e remeie# T$e

i(tionar* efinition of ea($ of t$e e8!ressions i)es t$em a far an

0ie rea($ 0$i($ ne(essitates t$at t$e statue s$ou' 'imit t$eir


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a!!'i(a%i'it* %* efinin ('ear an !re(ise stanars of (onu(t#

Gi)en t$at t$e stanar of (ertaint* ou$t to %e t$e $i$est in a

(rimina' statue, Se(tion ++A s$ou' %e e('are )oi as it oes not

!ro)ie !re(ise an ('ear efinitions for ea($ of t$e e8!ressions#

6# Somet$in t$at mi$t %e :ross'* offensi)e; to one !erson nee not

%e so to anot$er !erson, simi'ar'* 0$at mi$t (ause anno*an(e to

one !erson nee to effe(t anot$er !erson in t$e same 0a*# T$e

(onu(t s!e(ifie $erein e!ens entire'* on ea($ (om!'ainant2s

sensiti)it*# T$is furt$er %uttresses t$e arument t$at t$e

e8!ressions use in t$e C'ause are )aue an am%iuous# urt$er

t$e statues fai's to s!e(if* on 0$ose sensiti)it* t$e )io'ation

e!ens 0$et$ert$e sensiti)it* of t$e Fue or Fur*, t$e sensiti)it*

of t$e arrestin offi(er, or t$e sensiti)it* of a $*!ot$eti(a'

reasona%'e man#

5# It is true t$at most of t$ese e8!ressions $a)e a'so %een use in t$e

Inian Pena' Coe, $o0e)er it is su%mitte t$at t$e IPC un'i/e

Se(tion ++ A !ro)ies reater s!e(ifi(it* to ea($ of t$ese

e8!ressions %* 'imitin t$eir s(o!e %* !res(ri%in ('ear stanars

%* 0$i($ t$e !ro$i%ite (onu(t is to %e etermine# or e##

Se(tion "->A 0$i($ is t$e offen(e re'atin to seition, it see/s to

!ena'i?e an* a(tion t$at :attem!ts to %rin into $atre or (ontem!t

or e8(ites or attem!ts to e8(ite isaffe(tion;, an it 'imits t$e s(o!e

of t$e sai e8!ressions su($ as :$atre; %* !'a(in an aitiona'


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Hua'ifi(ation t$at on'* 0$en t$e same is ire(te :to0ars t$e

Go)ernment esta%'is$e %* 'a0; t$at it is (onsiere an offen(e#

4# Se(tion "< A of IPC ea's 0it$ :Promotin enmit* %et0een

ifferent rou!s on roun of re'iion, ra(e, !'a(e of %irt$,

resien(e, 'anuae, et(#, an oin a(ts !reFui(ia' to

maintenan(e of $armon*;# or an* a(t to %e reare as an offen(e

uner t$is Se(tion, t$e a(t must ne(essari'* !romote :fee'ins of

enmit*, $atre or i'' 0i''; an t$e aitiona' Hua'ifi(ation t$at 'imits

t$e a!!'i(a%i'it* of t$e Se(tion is t$at, t$e enmit*, $atre or i'' 0i''

s$ou' %e %et0een :ifferent re'iious, ra(ia', 'anuae or reiona'

rou!s or (astes or (ommunities; an on'* on rouns of :of

re'iion, ra(e, !'a(e of %irt$, resien(e, 'anuae, (aste or

(ommunit*;# Last'* Se(tion -+5 of IPC 0$i($ ea's 0it$ nuisan(e, it

$o's t$at a !erson is ui't* of !u%'i( nuisan(e if an a(t (auses

:anno*an(e to t$e !u%'i(; on'* to t$e e8tent t$at it interferes 0it$ a

!erson2s ri$t to enFo* $is$er !ri)ate !ro!ert* or an* !u%'i( ri$t# It

is su%mitte t$at in ea($ of t$e a%o)e Se(tions of t$e IPC a

(on(rete $arm reHuirement is !res(ri%e, furt$er t$e e8!ressions

su($ as :$atre;, :enmit*;, :anno*an(e; are efine %* 0$o are t$e

!ersons effe(te an rea(tion or sensi%i'ities of t$e effe(te

!ersons, it is su%mitte t$at t$is remo)es an* /in of un(ertaint* or

am%iuit*#

".# Se(tion ++A @a is !atent'* i''ea' on rouns of )aueness as no

s!e(ifi( intent is !res(ri%e, it sim!'* see/s to !ena'i?e an*


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information t$at is :ross'* offensi)e; or $as a :mena(in

($ara(ter;, t$e reHuirement of mens rea to o a !ro$i%ite a(t is

ne(essar* in a'' (rimina' statues an t$e same is a%sent in su%

se(tion @a of Se(tion ++A# or e## uner t$is su%se(tion a frien

!'a*in a !ran/ sim!'* in Fest 0$i($ as !er t$e (om!'ainant2s

sensiti)it* Hua'ifies to %e :ross'* offensi)e; mi$t %e !ena'i?e# It is

su%mitte t$at ri$t to offen is a %asi( !art of free s!ee($# A

!ro)ision 0$i($ states t$at t$ere is a ri$t to free s!ee($ !ro)ie a

!erson oes not (ause an* anno*an(e to an* ot$er !erson, ma/es

t$e ri$t to free s!ee($ a%so'ute'* meanin'ess#

Re%t!+,t+"n &n-e! Se,t+"n A # "&t%+-e the m+t "# A!t+,e 14

(2)

""# It is su%mitte t$at an* restri(tion to freeom of s!ee($ an

e8!ressions is on'* )a'i if it meets t$e tou($stone of Arti('e "4 @-#

Arti('e "4 @- 'a*s o0n t$at t$e State (an im!ose reasona%'e

restri(tions on t$e e8er(ise of ri$t !ro)ie uner Arti('e "4 @" @a

in t$e interest of t$e so)ereint* an interit* of Inia, t$e se(urit*

of t$e State, frien'* re'ations 0it$ forein states, !u%'i( orer,

e(en(* or mora'it* or in re'ation to (ontem!t of (ourt, efamation

or in(itement to an offen(e#

"-# T$is 1on2%'e Court in numerous Fuments $as $e' t$at 0$en t$e

Constitution !ro)ies for a istin(t (ateor* of !ermissi%'e

restri(tions, an* 'a0 of t$e State 0$i($ oes not satisf* t$e

reHuirements 'ai o0n in Arti('e "4 @- is un(onstitutiona'# In t$e

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(ases of BriF B$us$an an Anr# V# T$e State of De'$i AIR "4. SC

"-4 an Romes$ T$a!!ar )# T$e State of =aras AIR "4. SC "->

0$erein t$e (onstitutiona' )a'iit* of se(tion 6@"@( of t$e East

PunFa% Pu%'i( Safet* A(t, "4>4 an Se(tion 4 "AK of =aras

=aintenan(e of Pu%'i( Orer A(t, "4>4 res!e(ti)e'* 0ere

($a''ene# T$is 1on2%'e Court in %ot$ t$e a%o)e (ases $as $e'

t$at sin(e %ot$ t$e Se(tions im!ose 0ier restri(tions t$en t$e

restri(tions aut$ori?e uner Se(tion "4 @- t$e* 0ere $e' to %e

un(onstitutiona'#

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offen(e#Casua' (on)ersation ma* %e intene to anno* or (ause

:in(on)enien(e; t$is mi$t %e 'i$t$earte %anter or t$e earnest

e8!ression of !ersona' o!inion or emotion# But un'ess s!ee($

!resents a ('ear an !resent aner of some serious su%stanti)e

e)i', it s$ou' not %e for%ien nor !ena'i?e#

"# urt$er it is su%mitte t$at t$ere is a ifferen(e %et0een t$e

restri(tions enumerate in Se(tion ++A an t$at 0$i($ is

enumerate in Arti('e "4 @-# In serious or ara)ate forms

(ommuni(ations 0$i($ is ross'* offensi)e or (auses aner, insu't,

inFur*, enmit* or $atre mi$t 'ea to (onseHuen(es enumerate

uner Arti('e "4 @-# 1o0e)er t$is 1on2%'e Court in t$e (ase of

Romes$ T$a!!ar )# T$e State of =aras @su!ra 0$erein 0$i'e

ea'in 0it$ t$e (ontention t$at t$e e8!ression :!u%'i( safet*; in t$e

im!une A(t, 0$i($ is a statute re'atin to 'a0 an orer, means

t$e se(urit* of t$e Pro)in(e, an, t$erefore, :t$e se(urit* of t$e

State; uner Arti('e "4 @- as it 0as !rior to t$e Constitution @irst

Amenment A(t, "4" $as o%ser)e t$e fo''o0in 9 The

*onstitution thus re5uires a line to be drawn in the field of public

order or tran5uillity marking off, may be, roughly, the boundary

between those serious and aggravated forms of public disorder

which are calculated to endanger the security of the )tate and the

relatively minor breaches of the peace of a purely local

significance, treating for this purpose differences in degree as if

they were differences in kind#; T$erefore, t$ere %ein a sinifi(ant

ifferen(e in eree %et0een t$e restri(tion enumerate uner

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se(tion ++A an Arti('e "4 @-, it (annot %e sai t$at t$e restri(tions

uner Se(tion ++A (an %e (onstrue to mean restri(tions uner

Arti('e "4 @-#

"+# T$ere (ou' %e man* instan(es 0$ere sa*, 0it$out %rea($in !u%'i(

orer or efamin an*one, one ma* (ommuni(ate 0it$ anot$er 0it$

t$e !ossi%'e intention of (ausin a s'i$t anno*an(e or insu'tin

t$em in orer to em!$asi?e an iea or o!inion, or to !rom!t a

esire (ourse of a(tion t$at one is 'eitimate'* entit'e to see/#

T$is se(tion $as t$e effe(t of ma/in (rimina' a (ommuni(ation

mae %* a (onsumer to t$e ser)i(e !ro)ier or a manufa(turer

e8!ressin $is issatisfa(tion 0it$ t$e !rou(t or t$e ser)i(e or a

(ommuni(ation mae %* an irate (iti?en to a !u%'i( offi(ia'

e8!ressin $is issatisfa(tion o)er t$e (urrent state of !u%'i( affairs#

=ere into'eran(e or animosit* (annot %e t$e %asis for a%riment of

t$e (onstitutiona' freeom uner Arti('e "4 @"@a#

"6# T$erefore, t$e !etitioner res!e(tfu''* su%mits t$at Se(tion ++A of t$e

Information Te($no'o* A(t -... is un(onstitutiona'#

Date9 ->#""#-."> Pras$ant B$us$an

@Counse' for t$e Petitioners

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prashant bhushan 66a submissions- common cause

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