Dr Balwant Singh vs Commissioner of Police & Ors.

8/10/2019 Dr Balwant Singh vs Commissioner of Police & Ors.

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Reportable

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL No. 1002 OF 201!Ar"#"$% o&t o' S.L.P.!() No. 2*1+ o' 201*)

Dr. Balwant Singh Appellant(s)

Versus

Commissioner of Police & Ors. Responent(s)

J U D , M E N T

Ab-a Ma$o-ar Sapre/ J.

!. "ea#e grante

$. %his appeal arises out of an orer ate $!.'.$!

passe * the Di#ision Bench of the +igh Court of


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,uicature for Ra-asthan at ,aipur Bench ,aipur in D.B.

Ci#il Special Appeal (/rit) 0o. 12 of $! which arises

out of an orer ate $'.$.$! passe * the learne

Single ,uge in S.B. Ci#il /rit Petition 0o. $$1 of $!.

. B* impugne orer the Di#ision Bench ispose of

the appeal file * the appellant herein in the light of the

assurance gi#en * the State to settle the contro#ers*

raise * the appellant in the writ petition3appeal.

4. Dissatisfie with the impugne orer the appellant

has file this appeal * wa* of special lea#e efore this

Court.

'. %his Court issue notice to the responents. On

eing ser#e learne counsel for the responents file

counter affia#it on ehalf of the responents.

5. +ear learne counsel for the parties.

1. 6n orer to appreciate the issue in#ol#e in this

appeal it is necessar* to mention the facts in rief.

2. %he appellant (writ petitioner) is the resient of

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,aipur (Ra-asthan). +e retire as Director 7eneral of

Police in 8arch !99'. %o settle after retirement the

appellant constructe his house in a resiential colon*

opposite to Vih*ut Bhawan in ,*oti 0agar in ,aipur cit*.

%he localit* an in particular the location of the

appellant:s house is #er* near to ;Vihan Saha< (State

Asseml* Builing).

9. %he appellant to his misfortune notice that #er*

fre=uentl* thousan3hunres of people elonging to

political3non>political parties woul gather on the roa

approaching to Vihan Saha which is in front of his

house with agitate moo an woul unerta?e their

;Prote#t# Mar(- or


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there use to e a gathering of thousan3hunres of

people the emonstrators woul iniscriminatel* ma?e

use of the compoun walls of near* houses incluing

that of the appellant@s house to ease themsel#es

fre=uentl* at an* time.

!. 6n orer to regulate such e#ents an to maintain law

an orer situation the State an Police Aministration

use to put arricaes an epute hunres of police

personnel to see that no untowar incient occurs. %hese

arricaes use to e installe -ust in front of the gates of

the houses of the resients incluing the appellant:s

house. %he police personnel li?e others woul also use

the walls of the resiential houses incluing that of the

appellant:s house to ease an noo* was in a position to

tell them not to o such acti#ities in front of their houses.

%he appellant also notice that these acti#ities ha

gaine consierale momentum ma?ing li#ing of the

resients of that area a miserale one ecause neither

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the* were in a position to sta* comfortal* an peacefull*

insie the house or o an* wor? ue to constant noise

pollution nor were in a position to come out of their

house ue to constant fear of insecurit* an restrictions

put * the State.

!!. %he appellant was one of the most affecte persons

whose li#ing in his house ha ecome impossile ue to

these acti#ities an fining no solution to the prolem

face compelle him to first approach the Commissioner

of Police an ma?e an oral complaint ut fining that no

action was ta?en file a written complaint on $!.!!.$!!

(Anneure P>!).

!$. 6n the complaint the appellant narrate the

aforementione grie#ances in etail an re=ueste the

Commissioner of Police to ta?e immeiate effecti#e

remeial steps to pre#ent such e#ents.

!. Since the Commissioner of Police i not ta?e an*

action on the complaint the appellant on 5..$!$

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file a complaint efore the 0ational +uman Rights

Commission (0+RC) 0ew Delhi uner the pro#isions of

the +uman Rights Commission Act $' (hereinafter

referre to as ;the Act). %he 0+RC forware the

appellant:s complaint to the Ra-asthan State +uman

Rights Commission (RS+RC) for ta?ing appropriate

action in accorance with law. %he RS+RC on receipt of

the complaint registere the same eing Petition 0o.

!$3!13!1$ an * orer ate $4.9.$!$ partl*

allowe the appellant:s petition an irecte the

Aitional +ome Secretar* to orer the concerne

officials to effecti#el* stop interference with the right of

the appellant herein to lea an inepenent an peaceful

life an ensure that

1. T-e (ro3 o' 3e4o$#trator# 3oe# $ota##e4ble/ o$ bot- roa3# oppo#"te to t-epet"t"o$er5# -oe 3&r"$% t-e a##e4bl#e##"o$#.

2. T-e 3e4o$#trator# are $ot alloe3 to e

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-"%- poere3 lo&3#pea6er# 3&r"$% 3a a$3$"%-t.

*. T-e roa3 "# $ot (lo#e3 a'ter #topp"$% tra''"(a$3 tra''"( 4o7e4e$t "# 4a"$ta"$e3 "$ a#ta"$e3 a$3 or3erl 4a$$er.

. T-e pol"(e4e$ are #toppe3 'ro4 &r"$at"$% "$t-e pro8"4"t o' t-e all o' t-e pet"t"o$er5#-oe 'ro4 t-e #"3e o' t-e M.L.A.5# (o4ple8

3&r"$% t-e A##e4bl Se##"o$#.

9. No barr"(a3"$% "# 3o$e o$ t-e roa3 oppo#"teto/ a$3 $ear/ t-e -oe o' t-e pet"t"o$er.

!4. Despite issuance of the aforementione irections

the State i not ensure its compliance an on the other

han some miscreants attac?e the appellant@s house

an hence out of isgust the appellant was compelle to

file writ petition eing S.B.Ci#il /rit Petition 0o. $$1 of

$! efore the +igh Court of Ra-asthan Bench at

,aipur see?ing appropriate reliefs * issuance of writ of

prohiition3manamus against the State an its

authorities to protect the interest of the appellant his

propert* an his peaceful li#ing.

!'. "earne single ,uge * orer ate $'.$.$!

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ispose of the appellant:s writ petition oser#ing that

since the State has alrea* ta?en all necessar* steps in

the light of the irections gi#en * the RS+RC in their

orer ate $4.9.$!$ an hence no more orers are

calle for in the writ petition.

!5. "earne Single ,uge in the concluing part of his

orer oser#e as uner

::..I a4 o' t-e (o$#"3ere3 7"e t-at $o or3er o$t-e rel"e'# prae3 'or b t-e pet"t"o$er be pa##e3 a#t-e State ,o7er$4e$t -a# alrea3 ta6e$ allre;&"#"te a(t"o$ "t-"$ "t# poer# to e$#&re t-att-e pea(e a$3 ;&"et o' t-e pet"t"o$er l"7"$% "$ -"#re#"3e$t"al -oe at Jot" Na%ar lo(al"t "$pro8"4"t to V"3-a$ Sab-a "# $ot &$3&l 3"#t&rbe3.It o&l3 be e8pe(te3 t-at 4ea#&re# 3eta"le3 b t-eA33"t"o$al A37o(ate ,e$eral "$ -"# #&b4"##"o$#be'ore t-"# Co&rt o&l3 be "4ple4e$te3 #tr"(tl.

!1. %he appellant felt aggrie#e file intra court appeal

efore the Di#ision Bench of the +igh Court out of which

this appeal arises. %he Di#ision Bench * impugne

orer more or less on the same lines on which the

learne Single ,uge ha ispose of the writ petition

ecie the appellant:s appeal.

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!2. %he Di#ision Bench in the concluing part of their

orer oser#e as uner

I$ 7"e o' t-at a##&ra$(e e8te$3e3 o$ be-al'o' t-e State ,o7er$4e$t/ t-e lear$e3 #"$%le J&3%e-a# alrea3 rea(-e3 t-e (o$(l"o$ t-at t-e3"re(t"o$# "##&e3 b t-e H&4a$ R"%-t#Co44"##"o$/ Ra


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an acti#ities of other person(s) or3an State authorities

an all personal3funamental3propert* rights

guarantee an recognie in law to e#er* citien are

protecte to enale him to lea a meaningful life with

ignit* an peace an to also en-o* his propert*. 6t is

further state that in compliance to the orer passe *

RS+RC the State has issue irections for ensuring its

compliance which are as uner

a. Dep&t Co44"##"o$er o' Pol"(e -a# bee$

p&t "$ (-ar%e o' t-e area "$ or3er to e$#&re la a$3or3er "$ a$3 aro&$3 t-e re#"3e$(e o' t-e pet"t"o$er.

b. >arr"(a3"$% at appropr"ate 3"#ta$(e 'ro4 t-ere#"3e$(e o' t-e pet"t"o$er #o t-at t-e 4o7e4e$to' t-e re#"3e$t# a# ell a# o' t-e pet"t"o$er "# $otre#tr"(te3 a# #&(- a$3 al#o be(ae o' t-e3e4o$#trat"o$ "$ #pe("'"(. ?-e$ t-e le%"#lat"7ea##e4bl "# "$ #e##"o$ barr"(a3"$% "# 3o$e at lea#t@0 'eet aa 'ro4 t-e re#"3e$(e o' t-e pet"t"o$er.

(. Mob"le p&bl"( to"let# !to 7e-"(le#) -a7e bee$pla(e3 b t-e Ra


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3. Pr"or per4"##"o$ a# per t-e R&le# are be"$% %"7e$b t-e o''"(e o' Dep&t Co44"##"o$er o' Pol"(e/Ja"p&r !So&t-) to t-e 3e4o$#trator# a$3 D"#tr"(tColle(tor "# 3"re(te3 to e$#&re t-at -"le %"7"$%per4"##"o$ 'or 3e4o$#trat"o$ "t 4a al#o (-e(6t-at $o "$#tr&4e$t# are alloe3 -"(- 4a 7"olatet-e R&le# or (ae $o"#e poll&t"o$.

$. 6t is with this ac?groun the =uestion arises as to

whether the irections issue so far nee an* further

moification an if so to what etent.

$!. %he law on nuisance is well settle. 0uisance in

an* form as recognie in the law of %orts > whether

pri#ate pulic or common which results in affecting

an*one:s personal or3an propert* rights gi#es him a

cause of action3right to see? remeial measures in Court

of law against those who cause such nuisance to him

an further gi#es him a right to otain necessar* reliefs

oth in the form of pre#enting committing of nuisance

an appropriate amages3compensation for the loss if

sustaine * him ue to causing of such nuisance. (See

> Ratanlal Dhira-lal > "aw of %orts * 7.P.Singh > $5th

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Eition pages>5$!5154).

$$. /e ma* at this stage consier apposite to ta?e

note of law lai own * this Court in No"#e

Poll&t"o$!V)/ I$ Re I4ple4e$tat"o$ o' t-e La# 'or

re#tr"(t"$% e o' lo&3#pea6er# a$3 -"%- 7ol&4e

pro3&("$% #o&$3 ##te4#/ ($') ' SCC 1 as in our

consiere #iew it has a material earing o#er the issue

which is the su-ect matter of this appeal.

$. %his Court while entertaining the P6" file * one

Organiation calle


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("r(&4#ta$(e#. It #-all be 'olloe3 &$le## a$3 &$t"lrepla(e3 b a better ##te4.

2. T-e Depart4e$t o' E8plo#"7e# !DOE) #-all&$3erta6e $e(e##ar re#ear(- a(t"7"t 'or t-ep&rpo#e a$3 (o4e o&t "t- t-e (-e4"(al 'or4&lae'or ea(- tpe or (ate%or or (la## o' '"re(ra(6er#.DOE #-all #pe("' t-e proport"o$(o4po#"t"o$ a#ell a# t-e 4a8"4&4 per4"##"ble e"%-t o' e7er(-e4"(al e3 "$ 4a$&'a(t&r"$% '"re(ra(6er#.

*. T-e Depart4e$t o' E8plo#"7e# 4a 3"7"3e t-e

'"re(ra(6er# "$to to (ate%or"e# !i) #o&$3e4"tt"$% '"re(ra(6er#/ a$3 !ii) (olo&rl"%-te4"tt"$%'"re(ra(6er#.

. T-ere #-all be a (o4plete ba$ o$ b&r#t"$%#o&$3e4"tt"$% '"re(ra(6er# betee$ 10 p.4. a$3 @a.4. It "# $ot $e(e##ar to "4po#e re#tr"(t"o$# a# tot"4e o$ b&r#t"$% o' (olo&rl"%-te4"tt"$%'"re(ra(6er#.

9. E7er 4a$&'a(t&rer #-all o$ t-e bo8 o' ea(-'"re(ra(6er 4e$t"o$ 3eta"l# o' "t# (-e4"(al

(o$te$t# a$3 t-at "t #at"#'"e# t-e re;&"re4e$t a#la"3 3o$ b DOE. I$ (a#e o' a 'a"l&re o$ t-e parto' t-e 4a$&'a(t&rer to 4e$t"o$ t-e 3eta"l# or "$(a#e# -ere t-e (o$te$t# o' t-e bo8 3o $ot 4at(-t-e (-e4"(al 'or4&lae a# #tate3 o$ t-e bo8/ t-e4a$&'a(t&rer 4a be -el3 l"able.

@. F"re(ra(6er# 'or t-e p&rpo#e o' e8port 4a be4a$&'a(t&re3 bear"$% -"%-er $o"#e le7el# #&b a$3 #oo$.

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!ii) Loudspeakers

1+9. 1. T-e $o"#e le7el at t-e bo&$3ar o' t-ep&bl"( pla(e/ -ere lo&3#pea6er or p&bl"( a33re####te4 or a$ ot-er $o"#e #o&r(e "# be"$% e3#-all $ot e8(ee3 10 3>!A) abo7e t-e a4b"e$t $o"#e#ta$3ar3# 'or t-e area or +9 3>!A) -"(-e7er "#loer.

2. No o$e #-all beat a 3r&4 or to4to4 or bloa tr&4pet or beat or #o&$3 a$ "$#tr&4e$t or ea$ #o&$3 a4pl"'"er at $"%-t !betee$ 10.00 p.4.a$3 @ a.4.) e8(ept "$ p&bl"( e4er%e$("e#.

*. T-e per"p-eral $o"#e le7el o' pr"7atelo$e3#o&$3 ##te4 #-all $ot e8(ee3 b 4ore t-a$ 93>!A) t-a$ t-e a4b"e$t a"r;&al"t #ta$3ar3#pe("'"e3 'or t-e area "$ -"(- "t "# e3/ at t-ebo&$3ar o' t-e pr"7ate pla(e.

!iii) Vehicular noise

1+@. No -or$ #-o&l3 be alloe3 to be e3 at$"%-t !betee$ 10 p.4. a$3 @ a.4.) "$ re#"3e$t"alarea e8(ept "$ e8(ept"o$al ("r(&4#ta$(e#.

!iv) Awareness

1++. 1. T-ere "# a $ee3 'or (reat"$% %e$eralaare$e## toar3# t-e -aar3o e''e(t# o' $o"#epoll&t"o$. S&"table (-apter# 4a be a33e3 "$ t-ete8tboo6# -"(- tea(- ("7"( #e$#e to t-e (-"l3re$a$3 o&t- at t-e "$"t"alearlle7el o' e3&(at"o$.Spe("al tal6# a$3 le(t&re# be or%a$"#e3 "$ t-e#(-ool# to -"%-l"%-t t-e 4e$a(e o' $o"#e poll&t"o$a$3 t-e role o' t-e (-"l3re$ a$3 o&$%er%e$erat"o$ "$ pre7e$t"$% "t. Pol"(e a$3 ("7"la34"$"#trat"o$ #-o&l3 be tra"$e3 to &$3er#ta$3 t-e7ar"o 4et-o3# to (&rb t-e proble4 a$3 al#o t-ela# o$ t-e #&b


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implemente at least * the State of Ra-asthan in letter

an spirit with the result that the resients of ,aipur cit*

ha to suffer the nuisance of noise pollution apart from

other relate peculiar issues mentione ao#e so far as

the appellant:s case is concerne.

$5. 0eeless to reiterate that once this Court ecies

an* =uestion an eclares the law an issues necessar*

irections then it is the ut* of all concerne to follow the

law lai own an compl* the irections issue in letter

an spirit * #irtue of manate containe in Article !4!

of the Constitution.

$1. 6n our consiere #iew in the light of the

authoritati#e pronouncement renere * this Court on

the issue of noise pollution in the case of No"#e Poll&t"o$

!V)/ I$ Re !#&pra)/ it is not necessar* for this Court to

again eal with the same issue ecept to issue

appropriate irections for its compliance.

$2. /e accoringl* irect the responents to ensure

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strict compliance of the irections containe in Para !14

to !12 of the -ugment of this Court inNo"#e Poll&t"o$

!V)/ I$ Re !#&pra)/ an for ensuring its compliance

whate#er remeial steps which are re=uire to e ta?en

* the State an their concerne epartment(s) the same

e ta?en at the earliest to pre#ent3chec? the noise

pollution as irecte in the aforesai irections.

$9. 0ow so far as the isturance create * the

police3state officials3people at large in the appellant@s

peaceful li#ing in his house is concerne in our

consiere #iew the* o result in a#ersel* affecting the

appellant@s rights guarantee uner Article $! of the

Constitution as hel * this Court in No"#e Poll&t"o$

!V)/ I$ Re !#&pra) an also in Ra4l"la Ma"3a$ I$("3e$t

"$ Re/ ($!$) ' SCC !. %he RS+RC an the writ Court

were therefore -ustifie in entertaining the complaint

uner the Act an the writ petition uner Article $$5 of

the Constitution of 6nia an in conse=uence -ustifie in

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gi#ing appropriate irections mentione ao#e while

isposing the appellant:s complaint3writ petition.

. /e howe#er note that the State was right on their

part in not contesting the appellant:s complaint3writ

petition * raising technical3legal grouns fining the

appellant:s grie#ance mae in his complaint to e

genuine an then rightl* came out with remeial

suggestions to eal with the situation arising in the case.

!. 6nee this remins us of the sutle oser#ations

mae * ,ustice 8.C. Chagla Chief ,ustice of Boma*

+igh Court in F"r4 al&ra4 S"tara4 V#. T-e

Do4"$"o$ o' I$3"a/ A6R !9'4 Boma* ' wherein while

eciing the case etween the citien on the one han

an State on the other the learne Chief ,ustice in his

istincti#e st*le of writing remine the State of their

ut* towars the citiens while contesting his rights qua

State an mae the following oser#ations.

:.e -a7e o'te$ -a3 o((a#"o$ to #a t-at -e$t-e State 3eal# "t- a ("t"e$ "t #-o&l3 $ot

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or3"$ar"l rel o$ te(-$"(al"t"e#/ a$3 "' t-e State "##at"#'"e3 t-at t-e (a#e o' t-e ("t"e$ "# a


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further the implementation is oser#e in its proper

perspecti#e * the State an its authorities from time to

time couple with an* other goo suggestions if notice

while implementing the suggestions then most of the

prolems presentl* eing face * the appellant an

man* others li?e him in the concerne area(s) woul e

reuce to a large etent.

4. /e accoringl* irect the responents to ensure

strict compliance of the conitions3steps mentione in

Paras ' (a) to () of the Counter Affia#it etracte ao#e

an while ensuring its compliance if the responents

consier that it nees some amenment(s) for ensuring

etter implementation then in such e#entualit* the same

e one in the larger interest of the resients of the

concerne area an e=uall* for the enefits of the

resients of ifferent parts in the State. 0eeless to sa*

while implementing the irections its o-ecti#e shoul

alwa*s e to ensure that the rights of the citiens are not

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affecte a#ersel* * an* ?in of nuisance as mentione

ao#e.

'. 6n #iew of the foregoing iscussion an the

irections containe ao#e the appeal succees an is

allowe in part. 6mpugne orer stans moifie to the

etent mentione ao#e.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG,.

HFAII6R 8O+A8ED 6BRA+68 IA"6FJ""AK

.G.G...............................,.HAB+AL 8A0O+AR SAPREK

0ew DelhiM0o#emer 1 $!4.

Dr Balwant Singh vs Commissioner of Police & Ors.

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Transcript of Dr Balwant Singh vs Commissioner of Police & Ors.