HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 2420 OF 2008 Anil S. Bhandekar ... Petitioner. Vs. Dy. Commission of Police & Ors. ... Respondents. Mr. K.S.Patil with Mr. Deepak Girme, for the Petitioner. Mr. S.S. Pednekar, APP for State/Respondents. CORAM: A.S. OKA, J. DATE: 24TH APRIL, 2009. P.C. 1 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned APP for the State. The impugned order is an order of externment dated 21st August, 2008. The period of externment provided in the said order is already over. 2 The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petition may be decided on merits as the order of externment is a stigma. 3 The order of externment is a preventive action taken by the authorities under section 56 of the Bombay Police Act, 1951 and the said order cannot be termed as a sigma. The period of externment is already over and hence, the petition is disposed of. JUDGE.