Allahabad HC Lambasts Misuse of UP Control of Goonda Act, 1970

It is definitely a matter of extremely grave concern that none other than the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, which is the biggest high court in not only just India among all the states, in not only just Asia, in not only just Asia and Africa, in not only just a few continents, in not only just many continents but in all the continents all over the world, in a most learned, laudable, landmark, logical and latest judgement titled Zahid Ali vs State of UP and 4 others in Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 8680 of 2026, cited in Neutral Citation No.: 2026:AHC-LKO:63435, which was pronounced just recently on September 10, 2026, has come down very heavily upon the Uttar Pradesh State Government and has minced absolutely just no words to hold unequivocally that the Uttar Pradesh Government was continuously using the UP Control of Goondas Act, 1970, as a tool of oppression despite the courts regularly highlighting its misuse! This definitely cannot be just glossed over, and it is high time that even the Apex Court comes down very heavily on its misuse by the UP State Government! It must be noted that the Single Judge Bench, comprising Hon’ble Mr Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, made the extremely damning observation while most resolutely setting aside District Magistrate Gonda’s order declaring one Zahid Ali to be a ‘Goonda’.

Zahid Ali Was Externed From Gonda For Six Months

What also must be borne in mind is that Zahid Ali had been ordered to be externed (officially ordered to leave) from the district for six months. It merits noting that the Court made it crystal clear that the courts have repeatedly held that the Goonda Act is a powerful tool for the control and suppression of the 'Goondas', and it must be used very sparingly in very clear cases of ‘public disorder’ or for the maintenance of ‘public order’. It also hastened to add that the courts have also regularly reminded the State not to misuse it as a tool of oppression against innocent persons, as the law is not intended to secure punishment of a person without his conviction for a substantial offence.

Allahabad High Court Finds Misuse Of Goonda Act

Truth be told, the Bench was most explicit in holding indubitably that "numerous cases are being presented before this Court, indicating that the State is persistent in its approach of using the Goonda Act as a tool of suppression, and the present case is a glaring example of the abuse of the aforesaid statute.” The Court found that out of two cases cited by police to get Ali declared a ‘Goonda’, he had already been acquitted in one of the cases. The court pointed out that the police must have had knowledge about his acquittal in the case.

To be sure, the Bench clearly opined that the mention of his involvement in that case was deliberately done to portray a false picture of Ali before the District Magistrate. It was also added by the Bench, pointing out that though Ali had mentioned this fact later in the appeal before the Commissioner Devi Patan Mandal, the officer had not applied her mind to the grounds taken by him and confirmed the District Magistrate’s order. This itself highlights the glaring lapses that were committed in this leading case!

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No Reasonable Nexus Between the 2020 Case and the 2026 Externment

By any reckoning, we see that the Court was most forthright in candidly acknowledging that Ali’s involvement in a single criminal case that had been registered in 2020 does not establish that he habitually commits or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of offences, so as to justify his declaration as a Goonda and his exemption from the limits of the District in 2026, and there is no reasonable nexus between the registration of a criminal case in the year 2020 and the declaration of the petitioner as a Goonda in the year 2026. The Bench thus deemed it fit to quash the orders that had been passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda, and Commissioner, Devi Patan Mandal, against Ali. Very rightly so!

Background of the Zahid Ali Case

At the very outset, this brief, brilliant, bold and balanced judgement authored by the Single Judge Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court sets the ball in motion by first and foremost putting forth in para 1 that "Heard Shri Kunwar Bahadur Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Shri Ravi Srivastava, the learned A.G.A. representing the State of U.P./opposite parties.”

To put things in perspective, the Bench envisages in para 3 stating that, “By means of the instant writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India the petitioner has challenged the validity of an order dated 11.05.2026, passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda, in Case No. 342 of 2021, under Section 3(1) of the U.P. Control of Goondas Act, 1970 (which will hereinafter be referred to as ‘the Goonda Act’), whereby the petitioner has been declared to be a Goonda and has been externed from the limits of District Gonda for a period of six months. The petitioner had challenged the aforesaid order by filing Appeal No. 895 of 2026, under Section 6 of the Goonda Act, which has been dismissed by means of an order dated 12.08.2026 passed by the Commissioner, Devi Patan Mandal, Gonda, and the validity of the appellate order has also been challenged through this writ petition.”

Criminal Cases Relied Upon By The District Magistrate

As it turned out, the Bench enunciates in para 4 that "The impugned order dated 11.05.2026 passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda, states that the Superintendent of Police, Gonda, had submitted a report dated 29.10.2020 stating that the petitioner is a person of criminal nature." He is involved in the following two criminal cases:

As things stand, the Bench observes in para 5 that, “Besides the aforesaid two FIRs, a beat information report was also registered on 27.10.2020. The order states that the petitioner did not submit any reply to the show-cause notice issued to him. The Magistrate has recorded in the impugned order that the involvement of the appellant in the aforesaid two criminal cases in which charge sheets have been submitted against him, coupled with the fact that in an inquiry, the beat information has been verified to be true, makes out a case for declaration of the petitioner as a Goonda.”

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Acquittal In The 2010 Criminal Case

As we see, the Bench then lays bare in para. 6 disclosing that "the petitioner challenged the order dated 11.05.2026 passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda, by filing Appeal No. 895 of 2026, wherein he contended that he has already been acquitted in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010, under Sections 452, 323, 504, and 506 IPC by means of a judgement and order dated 26.08.2017, passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda." Now he is involved only in one criminal case arising out of Case Crime No. 430 of 2020, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 504, 506, 427, 336, 324, 188 IPC, Section 56 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which has been lodged because of political reasons.”

Further, the Bench reveals in para. 7, mentioning that "although a copy of the acquittal order dated 26.08.2017 was produced by the petitioner before the appellate authority and it finds a mention in the impugned order dated 12.08.2026 passed by the Commissioner, Devi Patan Mandal, Gonda, yet the Commissioner has recorded in the impugned order dated 12.08.2026 that from the material available on record, it is established that Case Crime No. 905 of 2010, under Sections 452, 323, 504, and 506 IPC, and Case Crime No. 430 of 2020, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 504, 506, 427, 336, 324, and 188 IPC, Section 56 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and a beat information report are pending against the petitioner, which has been verified in inquiry.”

Do note, the Bench notes in para 8 that "The State has filed a short counter affidavit wherein it has not been denied that the petitioner has been acquitted in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010 by means of the judgement and order dated 26.08.2017 passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda.”

Definition Of ‘Goonda’ Under Section 2(b)

Do also note, the Bench then notes in para 9 that "The word ‘Goonda’ is defined in Section 2(b) of the Goonda Act, as follows: -

(b) “Goonda” means a person who—

(i) either by himself or as a member or leader of a gang, habitually commits or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of an offence punishable under Section 153 or Section 153-B or Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code or Chapter XV, Chapter XVI, Chapter XVII or Chapter XXII of the said Code; or

(ii) has been convicted for an offence punishable under the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956; or

(iii) has been convicted not less than thrice for an offence punishable under the U. P. Excise Act, 1910 or the Public Gambling Act, 1867 or Section 25, Section 27 or Section 29 of the Arms Act, 1959; or

(iv) is generally reputed to be a person who is desperate and dangerous to the community; or

(v) has been habitually passing indecent remarks or teasing women or girls; or

(vi) is a tout.”

Legal Principles From Earlier Goonda Act Precedents

While citing recent and relevant case laws, the Bench observes in para 10 that, “In the case of Rahul v. State of U.P.: 2026 SCC OnLine All 21744, this Court has taken into consideration the precedents on the point of declaration of a person as a “goonda” in the case of Imran Alias Abdul Quddus Khan v. State of U.P.: 1999 SCC OnLine All 1636, Shankar Ji Shukla v. Ayuqt Allahabad Mandal: 2005 SCC OnLine All 304, Lalani Pandey @ Vijay Shankar Pandey v. State of U.P.: 2010 SCC OnLine All 2411, Govardhan v. State of U.P.: 2023 SCC OnLine All 780, Satendra v. State of U.P.: 2026 SCC OnLine All 3129 and Bharat Singh v. State of U.P.: 2023: AHC:171107 and summarised the law laid down in the above-mentioned judgements as follows: -”

Habitual Criminality Requires Repeated Acts

• A person is termed as a 'goon' if he is a habitual criminal. The word ‘habitually’ means ‘repeatedly’ or ‘persistently’. ‘Habit’ means persistence in doing an act, i.e., the commission of a number of similar acts. The word ‘habitual’ connotes some degree of frequency and continuity. Habitually requires a continuance and permanence of some tendency, something that has developed into a propensity, that is, present from day to day. Repeated, persistent and similar but not isolated, individual and dissimilar acts are necessary to justify an inference of habit.
• One or two acts of the accused will not be sufficient to hold that he is habitually involved in commission of offences referred to in the Act.
• There must be a reasonable nexus between the act of the accused and its impact on the society. There must not be a time gap between the proceedings under this Act, and the acts said to be committed by the accused must show a relation between the two.
• It must be evident from the facts that by his confirmed habit, the petitioner is sure to commit more offences if he is not externed.
• The legislation is preventive and not punitive. Its sole purpose is to protect the citizens from the habitual criminals and to secure future good behaviour and not to punish the innocent persons.
• The Goonda Act is a powerful tool for the control and suppression of the 'Goondas'; it should be used very sparingly in very clear cases of ‘public disorder’ or for the maintenance of ‘public order’. The Act should not be allowed to be misused as a tool of oppression of innocent persons.
• The Goonda Act is not intended to secure punishment of a person without his conviction for a substantial offence.
• The intention of the Act is to afford protection to the public against hardened or habitual criminals or bullies or dangerous or desperate classes who menace the security of a person or of property. The order of externment under the Act is required to be passed against persons who cannot readily be brought under the ordinary penal law and who cannot be convicted for the offences said to have been committed by them.

Acquittal Could Not Be Used To Support Goonda Declaration

Be it noted, the Bench notes in para 11 that, “Although, the police report alleged involvement of the petitioner in two criminal cases arising out of Case Crime No. 905 of 2010, under Sections 452, 323, 504, 506 IPC and Case Crime No. 430 of 2020, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 504, 506, 427, 336, 324, 188 IPC, Section 56 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, it is undisputed that the petitioner has already been acquitted in Case Crime No.905 of 2010 by means of a judgment and order dated 26.08.2017 passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda. Involvement of a person in a case instituted against him cannot be made a ground to declare him a Goonda after acquittal of the person in that case.”

Single Pending Case And The Requirement Of Public Order

Do further note, the Bench then notes in para 12 that "There is no allegation that the petitioner is a threat to the maintenance of public order." The District Magistrate has declared the petitioner to be a Goonda merely on the basis of his involvement in two cases, in one of which he already stood acquitted long before. After acquittal of the petitioner in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010 under Sections 452, 323, 504, and 506 IPC by means of a judgement and order dated 26.08.2017 passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda, now he is involved only in a single criminal case arising out of Case Crime No. 430 of 2020, under Sections 147, 148, 323, 504, 506, 427, 336, 324, and 188 IPC, Section 56 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and he is facing prosecution for the solitary criminal case in which he is involved, and it is not that the petitioner is not being dealt with under the ordinary penal law.”

Police Report And The Alleged False Picture Before The Magistrate

It cannot be just glossed over that the Bench points out in para 13 that, “Although the petitioner did not file any objection before the District Magistrate bringing to his notice the fact of his acquittal in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010 and, therefore, the District Magistrate cannot be said to have erred in taking into consideration the involvement of the petitioner in the aforesaid case, the police must have had knowledge of the acquittal of the petitioner in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010 by means of a judgement and order dated 26.08.2017 passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda, and, therefore, mention of the involvement of the petitioner in the aforesaid case in the police report indicates that the police have deliberately portrayed a false picture of the petitioner before the District Magistrate.”

Commissioner Failed To Apply Mind To The Acquittal

Most rationally, the Bench specifies in para 14, pointing out that, “Moreover, the petitioner had mentioned before the Commissioner Ayodhya Mandal that he had already been acquitted in Case Crime No. 905 of 2010, under Sections 452, 323, 504, and 506 IPC by means of a judgement and order dated 26.08.2017, passed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda, and now he is involved in a solitary criminal case. Although this fact finds mention in the impugned order passed by the Commissioner, the Commissioner has recorded her conclusion that the petitioner is involved in two criminal cases, including Case Crime No. 905 of 2010, under Sections 452, 323, 504, and 506 IPC, in which he has already been acquitted. This indicates the Commissioner has not applied her mind to the grounds taken by the petitioner while deciding the appeal. The appellate order suffering from the vice of non-application of mind becomes unsustainable in law.”

2020 Criminal Case Not Sufficient To Establish Habitual Offending In 2026

Most significantly, the Bench encapsulates in para 15 what constitutes the cornerstone of this notable judgment postulating precisely that, “Involvement of the petitioner in a single criminal case instituted in the year 2020 lodged in the year 2020 does not establish that the petitioner habitually commits or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of offences punishable under Section 153 or Section 153-B or Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code or Chapter XV, Chapter XVI, Chapter XVII or Chapter XXII of the said Code so as to justify his declaration as a Goonda under Section 2(b)(i) of the Act. There is a long time gap between the alleged acts committed by the petitioner in the year 2020 leading to lodging of Case Crime No. 430 of 2020 and declaration of the petitioner as a goonda and his externment from the limits of the District in the year 2026 and there is no reasonable nexus between registration of a criminal case in the year 2020 and declaration of the petitioner as a goonda in the year 2026.”

Beat Information Report And Principles Of Natural Justice

Most forthrightly, the Bench notes in para 16, holding aptly that, “So far as the beat information report is concerned, although the impugned order passed by the District Magistrate and the impugned appellate order passed by the Commissioner mention that the beat information has been found to be correct upon verification, neither any case is registered on the basis of a beat information report, nor is the person against whom the beat information has been registered given an opportunity of hearing in furtherance of that report." Any inquiry conducted on the basis of a beat information report without giving an opportunity of hearing to the affected person, i.e., the petitioner in the present case, cannot be used as a ground to declare him to be a Goonda, as it would violate the principles of natural justice.”

Court On Persistent Misuse Of The Goonda Act

Most commendably, the Bench, while catching the bull by the horns, is most explicit in holding candidly in para 17 that "although the courts have repetitively held that the Goonda Act is a powerful tool for the control and suppression of the ‘Goondas’: that it should be used very sparingly in very clear cases of ‘public disorder’ or for the maintenance of ‘public order’; that it should not be allowed to be misused as a tool of oppression of innocent persons and that the Goonda Act is not intended to secure punishment of a person without his conviction for a substantial offence, numerous cases are being presented before this Court, indicating that the State is persistent in its approach of using the Goonda Act as a tool of oppression, and the present case is a glaring example of the abuse of the aforesaid statute.”

Allahabad High Court Quashes The Goonda Act Orders

As a corollary, it is worth noting that the Bench notes in para 18 directing and holding that, “In view of the foregoing discussions, I am of the considered view that the order dated 11.05.2026, passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda in Case No. 342 of 2021, under Section 3(1) of the Goonda Act whereby the petitioner has been declared to be a Goonda and has been externed from the limits of District Gonda for a period of six months, and the order dated 12.08.2026 passed by the Commissioner, Devi Patan Mandal, Gonda dismissing Appeal No. 895 of 2026 filed by the petitioner under Section 6 of the Goonda Act against the order passed by the District Magistrate, are unsustainable in law.”

Writ Petition Allowed And Impugned Orders Quashed

Finally, it would be instructive to note that the Bench then concludes by directing and holding in para 19 that, “Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 11.05.2026, passed by the District Magistrate, Gonda in Case No. 342 of 2021, under Section 3(1) of the Goonda Act whereby the petitioner has been declared to be a Goonda and has been externed from the limits of District Gonda for a period of six months, and the order dated 12.08.2026 passed by the Commissioner, Devi Patan Mandal, Gonda dismissing Appeal No. 895 of 2026 filed by the petitioner under Section 6 of the Goonda Act against the order passed by the District Magistrate, are quashed.”

Conclusion: Misuse Of UP Control Of Goondas Act, 1970

In summary, this most notable judgement is undoubtedly a most leading indictment of the blatant, brazen and brutal misuse of the UP Control of Goondas Act, 1970, as a tool of oppression by the Uttar Pradesh State Government continuously, which definitely cannot be ever justified under any circumstances, just like the extraordinary haste in the demolition of a century-old mosque in Saharanpur Collectorate premises again in UP, which cannot be ever justified and will always remain as a very big blot and black stain on our Indian democracy. It thus merits just no reiteration that all this just does not bode well for our nation, and it is high time that the top court and Allahabad High Court, or in which the condemnable incident takes place, the High Court of that State, must take suo motu cognisance and make sure that democracy is not made a mockery and reduced to mere ashes by most blatant misuse of penal laws, as we see most unfortunately in this leading case and in so many other cases also! One fervently hopes so!

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,
s/o Col (Retd) BPS Sirohi, A - 82, Defence Enclave,
Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera, Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.

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