THE MAHARASHTRA PREVENTION OF DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES OF SLUMLORDS, BOOTLEGGERS, DRUG-OFFENDERS AND DANGEROUS PERSONS ACT, 1981

(MAHARASHTRA ACT NO. LV OF 1981)

This Act received assent of the President on 21st September 198 1; assent was published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, Part IV, Extra-ordinary on 23rd September, 1981.

An Act to provide for preventive detention of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug-offenders, for preventing their dangerous activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

WHEREAS public order was adversely affected every now and then by the dangerous activities of certain persons, who are known as Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug-offenders;

AND WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature were not in Session;

AND WHEREAS, having regard to the resources and influence of the persons by whom, the large scale on which, and the manner in which, the dangerous activities were being clandestinely organized and carried on in violation of law by them, as Slumlords, Bootleggers or Drug-offenders in the State of Maharashtra, and particularly in its urban areas, the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action to have a special law in this State to provide for preventive detention of these three classes of persons and for matters connected therewith and, therefore, promulgated the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug offenders Ordinance, 1981; (Mah. Ord III of 1981), on the 11 June, 1981;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the State Legislature; It is hereby enacted in Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India follows:-

SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT

(1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug-offenders Act, 1981.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Maharashtra.

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 11th June, 1981.

SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)"acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order" means--

(i) in the case of a Slumlord, when he is engaged, or is making preparations for engaging, in any of his activities as a Slumlord, which affect adversely, or are likely to affect adversely, the maintenance of public order.

(ii) in the case of a bootlegger, when he is engaged, or is making preparations for engaging, in any of his activities as a bootlegger, which affect adversely, or are likely to affect adversely, the maintenance of public order;

(iii) in the case of a drug-offender, when he is engaged, or is making preparations for engaging, in any of his activities as a drug-offender, which affect adversely, or are likely to affect adversely, the maintenance of public order;

(iv) (a) Committing any offences due to which there are on may be social or administrative obstruction as a dangerous individuals, they are doing or ready to do any activity among such activities.

Inserted by Maharashtra Act 29 of 1996, published in Maharashtra Government Gazette, Extra Part IV dated 11^th December 1996.

Explanation.---For the purpose of this Clause (a), public order shall be deemed to have been affected adversely, or shall be deemed likely to be affected adversely, inter alia if any of the activities of any of the persons referred to in this Clause, directly or indirectly, is causing or calculated to cause any harm, danger or alarm or a feeling of insecurity, among the general public or any section thereof or a grave or widespread danger to life or public health;

(b)"bootlegger" means a person, who distills, manufactures, stores, transports, imports, exports, sells or distributes any liquor, intoxicating drug or other intoxicant contravention 'of any provisions of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, Bom XXV of 1949 and the rules and orders made thereunder, or of any other law for the time being in force, or who knowingly expends or       applies any money or supplies any animal, vehicle,vessel or other conveyance or any receptacles or any other materials whatsoever in furtherance or support of the doing any of the above mentioned things by or through any other person, or who abets in any other manner the doing of any such thing;

(2)(b)(i)---"Dangerous person" means a person committing an offence under sections 16 and 17 of Indian Penal Code or under section 5 of Arms Act, 1959, indirectly or as a part of a group or group leader, doing personally or trying to do personally or abetting others to do.

(c) detention order "means an order made under section 3;

(d) "detenu" means a person detained under a detention order;

(e) "drug offender" means a person who manufactures, stocks, imports, exports, sells or distributes any drug or cultivates any plant or does any other thing in contravention of any provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, (XIII of 1940) or the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 (  11 of 1930) or the rules and orders made under either Act or in contravention of any other law for the time being in force, or who knowingly expends or applies any money in furtherance or support of the doing of any of the above mentioned things by or Through any other person, or who abets in any other manner the doing of any such thing;

(f) "slumlord" means a person, who illegally takes possession of any lands whether belonging to Government, local authority or any other person or enters into or creates illegal tenancies or leave and licence agreements or any other agreements in respect of such lands, or who constructs unauthorised structures thereon for sale or hire, or gives such lands to any persons or rental or leave and licence basis for construction, or use and occupation, of unauthorised structures, or who knowingly gives financial aid to any persons for taking illegal possession of such lands, or for construction of unauthorised structures thereon, or who collects or attempts to collect from any occupiers of such lands rent, compensation or other charges by criminal intimidation, or who evicts or attempts to evict any such occupiers by force without resorting to the lawful procedure, or who abets in any manner the doing of any of the above mentioned things;

(g) "unauthorised structure" means any structure constructed, without express permission in writing of the Municipal Commissioner in Municipal Corporation area, and elsewhere of the Collector, or except in accordance with any law for the time being in force in the area concerned.

SECTION 03: POWER TO MAKE ORDERS DETAINING CERTAIN PERSONS

(l) The State Government may, if satisfied with respect to any person that with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial   to the maintenance of public order, it is necessary so to do, make an order directing that such person be detained.

(2) If, having regard to the circumstances prevailing or likely to prevail in any area within the local limits of the jurisdiction of a District Magistrate or a Commissioner of Police, the State Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do, it may, by order in writing, direct, that during such period as may be specified in the order such District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police may also, if satisfied as provided in sub-section (1), exercise the powers conferred by the said sub-section:

Provided that the period specified in the order made by the State Government under this sub-section shall not, in the first instance, exceed three months, but the State Government may, if satisfied as aforesaid that it is necessary so to do, amend such order to extend such period from time to time by any period not exceeding three months at any one time.

(3) when any order is made under this section by an officer mentioned in sub-section (2), he shall forthwith report the fact to the State Government, together with the grounds on which the order has been made and such other particulars as, in his opinion, have a bearing on the matter, and no such order shall remain in force for -more than twelve days after the making thereof, unless, in the meantime, it has been approved by the State Government.

SECTION 04: EXECUTION OF DETENTION ORDERS

A detention order may be executed at any place in the State in the manner provided for the execution of warrants of arrest under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (11 of 1974).

SECTION 05: POWER TO REGULATE PLACE AND CONDITIONS OF DETENTION

Every person in respect or whom a detention order has been made shall be liable--

(a) to be detained in such place and under such conditions, including conditions as to maintenance, discipline and punishment for breaches of discipline, as the State Government may, by general or special order, specify; and

(b) to be removed from one place of detention to another place of detention, within the State by order of the State Government.

SECTION 5A: GROUNDS OF DETENTION SEVERABLE

Where a person has been detained in pursuance of an order of detention under section 3 which has been made on two or more grounds, such order of detention shall be deemed to have been made separately on each of such grounds and accordingly--

(a) such order  shall not be deemed to be invalid or inoperative merely because one or some of the grounds is or are

(i) vague,

(ii) non-existent,

(iii) not relevant,

(iv) not connected or not proximately connected with such person, or

(v) invalid for any other reason whatsoever, and it is not, therefore, possible to hold that the State Government or an officer mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 3 making such order would have been satisfied as provided in section 3 with reference to the remaining ground or grounds and made the order of detention;

(b) the State Government or such officer making the order of detention shall be deemed to have made the order of detention under the said section 3 after being satisfied as provided in that section with reference to the remaining ground or grounds;

section 5-A was inserted by Mah. 2, of 1988 section 2.

SECTION 06: DETENTION ORDERS NOT TO BE INVALID OR INOPERATIVE ON CERTAIN GROUNDS

No detention order shall be invalid or inoperative merely by reason,--

(a) that the person to be detained thereunder though within the State is outside that limits of the territorial jurisdiction of the officer making the order, or

(b) that the place of detention of such person though within the State is outside the said limits.

SECTION 07: POWERS IN RELATION TO ABSCONDING PERSONS

(l) If the State Government, or an officer mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 3, has reason to believe that a person in respect of whom a detention order has been made has absconded, or is concealing himself so that the order cannot be executed, then the provisions of sections 82 to 86 (both inclusive) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (11 of 1974), shall apply in respect of such person and his property, subject to the modifications mentioned in this sub-section and, irrespective of the place where such person ordinarily resides, the detention order made against him shall be deemed to be a warrant issued by a competent Court. Where the detention order is made by the State Government, an officer, not below the rank of District Magistrate or Commissioner of police authorised by the State Government in the behalf, or where the detention order is made by an officer mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 3 such officer, as the case may be, shall irrespective of his ordinary jurisdiction, be deemed to be empowered to exercise all the powers of the competent Court under sections 82, 83, 84 and 85 of the said Code for issuing a proclamation for such person and for attachment and sale of his property situated in any part of the State and for taking any other action under the said sections. An appeal from any order made by any such officer rejecting an application for restoration of attached property shall lie to the Court of Session, having jurisdiction in the place where the said person ordinarily resides, as provided in section 86 of the said Code.

(2) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if the State Government or an officer mentioned in subsection (2) of section 3 has reason to believe that a person in respect of whom a detention order has been made has absconded or's concealing himself so that the order cannot be executed, the State Government or the officer, as the case may be, may, by order notified in the Official Gazette, direct the said person to appear before such officer, at such place and within such period as may be specified in the order.

(b) If such, person fails to comply with such order, unless he proves that it was not possible for him to comply therewith, and that he had, within the period  specified in the order, informed the officer mentioned in the order of the reasons which rendered compliance therewith impossible and of his where abouts or proves that it was not possible for him to so inform the officer mentioned in the order, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in the said Code, every offence under Clause (b) shall be cognizable.

SECTION 08: GROUNDS OF ORDER OF DETENTION BE DISCLOSED TO PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE ORDER

(1) When a person is detained in pursuance of a detention order, the authority making the order shall, as soon as may be, but not later than five days from the date of detention, communicate to him the grounds on which the order has been made and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order of the State Government.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall require the authority to disclose facts which it considers to be against the public interest to disclose.

SECTION 09: CONSTITUTION OF ADVISORY BOARDS

(l) The State Government shall, whenever necessary, constitute one or more Advisory Boards for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Every such Board shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, who are, or have been, Judges of any High Court or who are qualified under the Constitution of India to be appointed as Judges of a High Court.

SECTION 10: REFERENCE TO ADVISORY BOARD

In every case where a detention order has been made under this Act, the State Government shall, within three weeks from the date of detention of a person under the order, place before the Advisory Board constituted by it under section 9 the grounds on which the order has been made and the representation, if any, made by the person affected by the order, and in the case where the order has been made by an officer, also the report by such officer under sub-section (3) of section 3.

SECTION 11: PROCEDURE OF ADVISORY BOARDS

(l) The Advisory Board shall, after considering the materials placed before it and, after calling for such further information as it may deem necessary from the State Government or from any person called for the purpose thought the State Government or from the person concerned, and if, in any particular case, the Advisory Board considers it essential so to do or if the person concerned desires to be heard, after hearing him in person, submit its, report to the State Government, within seven weeks from the date of detention of the person concerned.

(2) The report of the Advisory Board shall specify in a separate part thereof the opinion of the Advisory Board as to whether or riot there is sufficient cause for the detention of the person concerned.

(3) When there is a difference of opinion among the members forming the Advisory Board, the opinion of the majority of such members shall be deemed to be the opinion of the Board.

(4) The proceedings of the Advisory Board and its report, excepting that part of the report in which the opinion of the Advisory Board is specified, shall be confidential.

(5) Nothing -in this section shall entitle any person against whom a detention order has been made to appear by any legal practitioner in any matter connected with the reference to the Advisory Board.

SECTION 12: ACTION UPON REPORT OF ADVISORY BOARD

(1) In any case where the Advisory Board has reported that there is, in its opinion, sufficient cause for the detention of a person, the State Government may confirm the detention order and continue the detention of the person concerned for such period, not exceeding the maximum period prescribed by section 13, as it thinks fit.

(2) In any case where the Advisory Board has reported that there is, in its opinion, no sufficient cause for the detention of the person concerned, the State Government shall revoke the detention order and cause the person to be released forthwith.

SECTION 13: MAXIMUM PERIOD OF DETENTION

The maximum period for which any person may be detained, in pursuance of any detention order made under this Act which has been confirmed under section 12, shall be twelve months from the date of detention.

These words were substituted for the words "Six month" by Mah. 24 of 1988, sec 3.

SECTION 14: REVOCATION OF DETENTION ORDERS

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 21 of the Bombay General Bom Clauses Act I, 1904, a detention order may, at any time, be revoked or modified by the State Government, notwithstanding that the order has been made by an officer mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 3.

(2) The revocation or expiry of a detention order shall not bar the making of a fresh detention order under section 3 against the same person, in any case, where fresh facts have arisen after the date of revocation or expiry, on which the State Government or an officer, as the case may be, is satisfied that such an order should be made.

SECTION 15: TEMPORARY RELEASE OF PERSONS DETAINED

(l) The State Government may, at any time, direct that any person detained in pursuance of a detention order may be released for any specified period, either without conditions or upon such conditions specified in the direction as that person accepts, and may, at any time, cancel his release.

(2) In directing the release of any detenu under sub-section (1), the State Government may require him to enter into a bond, with a without sureties, for the due observance of the conditions specified in the direction.

(3) Any person released under sub-section (1) shall surrender himself at the time and place, and to the authority, specified in the order directing his release or cancelling his release, as the case may be.

(4) If any person fails without sufficient cause to surrender himself in the manner specified in sub-section (3), he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

(5) If any person released under sub-section (1) fails to fulfill any of the conditions imposed upon him under the said sub-section or in the bond entered into by him, the bond shall be declared to be forfeited and any person bound thereby shall be liable to pay the penalty thereof.

SECTION 16: PROTECTION OF ACTION TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH

No suit prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government or any officer of person, for anything in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.

SECTION 17: DETENTION ORDERS AGAINST ANY SLUMLORD, BOOTLEGGER OR DRUG OFFENDER TO BE MADE UNDER THIS ACT AND NOT UNDER NATIONAL SECURITY ACT

(a) On and after the commencement of this Act, no order of detention under the National Security Act, 1980, (LXV of 1980), shall be made by the State Government or any of its officers under that Act, in respect of any slumlord, bootlegger or drug offender in the State of Maharashtra, on the ground of preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order, where an order of detention may be or can be made against such person under this Act.

(b) To restrict any act which may obstruct communal or public administration, against whom detention order can be issued or possible to be issued, State Government or any officer under National Security Act, 1980, can not issue detention order under this Act.

SECTION 18: REPORT OF MAH. ORD. III OF 1981 AND SAVING

(l) The Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug-offenders Ordinance, 1981, is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken (including any order made) under the said Ordinance shall be demand to have been done, taken or made, as the case may be, under the corresponding provisions of this Act.