Case Analysis of Rudul Sah vs.

the State of Bihar

(1983)
The role of judicial activism in the Indian judiciary holds great significance, and one
such example of its significance was highlighted in the landmark judgment of Rudul Sah
vs. the State of Bihar decided in 1983. The case traces back its history to Article 21 of
the Indian constitution in the light of state liability followed by writ jurisdiction.

This landmark judgment is particularly noteworthy since it established the path for
compensating victims whose fundamental rights under the Indian constitution were
violated. It is important to emphasize and bring it to the notice that the Constitution of
India does not possess any expressed provisions for compensation, and the decision
was formulated by the apex court of India on the basis of the remedial power
interpreted by the Court.[1]

Facts:

The case involves a man who was imprisoned for a period exceeding his sentence. The
petitioner, who was Rudul Sah, submitted a writ jurisdiction based on the principle of
habeas corpus (to have a body), which demanded his liberation from jail.

The petition of habeas corpus was based on the grounds that the petitioner was
detained beyond the period of imprisonment, and his detention was considered illegal
by the session court in June 1968.

The petitioner further demanded collateral relief under the constitutional remedies
available to the citizens of India under the ambit of the heart and soul of the Indian
constitution, which is Article 32.

Rudul Sah, the petitioner, was arrested for the murder of his wife. He was acquitted on
June 3, 1968, by the Sessions Court of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, after serving his sentence.
He was, however, freed from prison in October 1982, after serving a 14-year term.[2]

The petitioner, in his application, demanded redressal from the court for his unjust
detention.

Additionally, he requested medical treatment to be sponsored by the state of Bihar. -

funded. On November 22nd, the petition was presented before the court; however, he
was already released from jail before.

However, with reference to supplemental remedy, the court served the state with a
show-cause notice.

The jailor drafted an affidavit on behalf of the state and put forward two documents.

To begin, despite his acquittal, an order was issued by the extra session judge, which
required the petitioner to remain behind bars until further notice by the state
government of Bihar.

Secondly, he was declared incapable of facing prosecution at the time the order was
made by the Sessions Court. In response to the medical treatment, the petitioner was
deemed to be normal in a medical test conducted by a civil surgeon. The medical
reports were submitted to the law department in February 1977 and were issued in
October 1982.

Issue Of The Case:

The court was faced with the question that whether the petitioner is entitled to
compensation under the ambit of Article 32 of the Indian constitution?

Does the right to compensation for unconstitutional detention fall under the provisions
of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution?

Can the citizen of India avail the defence against the arbitrariness of the state?

Rules In The Case And Challenge Before The Court

Several rules and challenges were laid down before the court in the aspect of both the
appellant and the defendant. The entire case revolved around Article 32 and Article 21
of the Indian Constitution.

On The Part of the Petitioner

The petitioner's counsel contended that he was held in prison despite being acquitted
by the appropriate authority. The appellant was compelled to remain behind the bars for
14 years before being released.

The case was a direct violation of the prosecution's right to be guaranteed under Article
21 of the Constitution, which asserts that every citizen is entitled to the fundamental
right of life and personal liberty.
Additionally, the petitioner claimed payment to be borne by the government of Bihar for
anticipated medical care. Further, he sought reparation for his unjust detention and an
ex-gratia payment to assist with his recovery.

On The Part of the Defendant

The Respondent's counsel contended that the petitioner was imprisoned as a

consequence of an order issued by the authorities through the Additional Sessions
Judge, which stated he would be acquitted only after the order is cleared from the
Government of Bihar and IG of Prisons in Bihar.

Additionally, the Respondent asserted that the applicant was declared unsound but was
later released after one civil surgeon conducted medical tests and declared him to be
fit.[3]

Judgement By The Court

The Judge issued the petition, concluding the imprisonment of Mr. Rudul Sah (the
petitioner) beyond the term of imprisonment was completely illegal. Article 32
empowers the apex court to issue orders and implement the writs if the fundamental
rights mentioned under part III of a person are violated.

This Court's jurisdiction is restricted to restraining unlawful detention, Article 21, which
guarantees the right to liberty.

Compensation is a curative for the wrongdoing of instrumentalities operating in the

public good and utilizing the State's authorities to hide.

Moreover, someone could not be detained for a longer length of time if he had been
mentally ill just at the time he was freed. The rationale is simple. Even a madman has
rights under the law during the course of his or her trial. The Court determined that the
State's conduct was disproportionate and lacked supporting facts. As a consequence,
the Court found the petitioner's imprisonment to be unreasonable.

Moreover, someone could not be detained for a longer length of time if he had been
mentally ill just at the time he was freed. The rationale is simple. Even a madman has
rights under the law during the course of his or her trial. The Court determined that the
State's conduct was disproportionate and lacked supporting facts. As a consequence,
the Court found the petitioner's imprisonment to be unreasonable.

The Tribunal then assessed if it was appropriate to grant the plaintiff's application for
interim relief founded on its entitlement to relief. Article 21, which guarantees individual
freedom, would be worthless if the Court were limited to ordering the release of
unlawful detainees without addressing their plight.

Analysis

Rudul Shah's lawsuit is a milestone point in human history of state culpability and
compensation. This case is significant since it recognized the legitimacy of
compensatory justice for constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights abuses.
Additionally, this decision reversed the judgment in Kasturilal vs. State of Uttar Pradesh
(1964).

The Court noted in this instance that the government was exempt from liability for the
tort committed by its police officers, a grave violation of people's rights. The Supreme
Court, however, determined the government's tortious behaviour to be within the bounds
of its constitutional jurisdiction and awarded the security reason. P.B. Gajendragadkar,
C.J., believed the regulation was necessary and chastised the government for failing to
implement it.[4]

Numerous others have expressed opposition to the Kasturilal decision[5]. The

constitution of India does not clearly allow for compensation. The Court's judgment is
based on its appraisal of the breadth of Rudul's right to remedy. The constitution of
India does not clearly allow for compensation.

The Court's judgment is based on its appraisal of the breadth of Rudul's right to remedy.
The Rudul Sah case represented the Supreme Court's payment of compensation to a
victim for a breach of a fundamental right within its authority since its inception. This
situation shows a person's anguish. Rudul Sah's suffering was not his responsibility, but
rather the result of the institution in which locals put their trust.

It was completely an instance of a person being harmed as a consequence of political

inaction. In other instances, the violation of Article 32 was subsequently dramatically
broadened. Article 21 of the Indian constitution is known as the heart of the
fundamental rights, and it holds utmost importance as a fundamental right, thereby
necessitating compensation as a constitutional remedy.

In Khatri vs. State of Bihar[6], monetary compensation came into the picture for the first
time via writs. In M.C Mehta vs. Union of India[7], it was held by the Court that new
remedies or compensation could be suggested by the courts. The state performs a
variety of functions in a democracy, which includes restricting the citizens from
misusing their authority. There are certain instances where fundamental rights.
In this case, a technique for determining the state's obligation and restoring the victim is
needed. Though, it is worth noting that the government has made no attempt to
implement laws to remedy residents' claims against it. The Indian judicial system has
engaged on a challenging subject by formulating principles for resolving the
abovementioned dilemma in a distinct Indian fashion.

The arbitrary actions of the state operations have a profound impact on the life of the
citizens with respect to almost every aspect. As consequence, the state's liability should
be made coextensive in accordance with the concept of a welfare state. It is necessary
to hold the state accountable for any tortious acts committed by its personnel,
regardless of their position in the Indian government, and in order to implement their
powers, the authorities cannot create an arbitrary rule, and they should be made
accountable.

Conclusion

Despite constitutional and legislative safeguards for personal rights, the escalating
rates of custodial deaths (Tamil Nadu case) and torture have sought the attention of the
superior judiciary along with the NHRC. NHRC has lately granted compensation in a
number of cases.[8] The complaints against police officers and other law enforcement
officials misusing their authority and abusing suspects are increasing[9].

Usually, sufferers of prison abuse are members of our society's poorer segment. The
privileged segment of the society gets legal protection, while on the other hand, the
impoverished and disadvantaged with no political approach or financial influence have
virtually no human rights. It is concluded that the system does not enjoy sovereign
immunity any longer when it comes to state employees committing torts against
citizens.

The apex court has reversed the Rudul Shah case and has reintroduced a new viewpoint
on the concept of state liability. When a state employee violates the freedom of an
individual, the state is considered legally responsible. It would also be ideal if our
Parliament established new rules and regulations on this topic, holding the state legally
liable for any tort committed by its staff in due course of performing a sanctioned or a
non-sanctioned task.

Additionally, there was a debate about instituting a constitutional framework based on

check and balance to prevent such tragedies. It was specifically designed for Bihar,
which had been undergoing turmoil at the time due to the insecurity of its prison system.
It is safe to say that all states will benefit from it if the proper mechanism is
implemented to check the wrongs of the state and compensate the victims accordingly
to prevent such catastrophe.

Relying on the foregoing research, which involved numerous cases, it can be concluded
that the state cannot implement torturous activities on its citizens, and if it happens,
then the state is held liable and is made to provide the remedies in the form of
compensation