Hindustani Andolan & Ors vs State Of Punjab & Ors on 24 November, 1983 Equivalent citations: 1984 AIR 582, 1984 SCR (1) 902, AIR 1984 SUPREME COURT 582, 1984 (3) SCC 617, 1984 ALL. L. J. 6, 1984 CURCRIJ 33, 1984 CRIAPPR(SC) 83, 1984 ALLCRIC 36, 1984 ALLCRIR 36, 1984 SCC(CRI) 453, 1984 IJR 155, 1984 CRIAPPR(SC) 78, 1984 CURCRIJ 35, 1983 (2) CRIMES 940, 1984 SC CRI R 96 (2), 1984 SC CRI R 96 (1), (1984) ALL WC 18, (1984) SC CR R 96 Author: Y.V. Chandrachud Bench: Y.V. Chandrachud, Amarendra Nath Sen, M.P. Thakkar PETITIONER: HINDUSTANI ANDOLAN & ORS. Vs. RESPONDENT: STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS. DATE OF JUDGMENT24/11/1983 BENCH: CHANDRACHUD, Y.V. ((CJ) BENCH: CHANDRACHUD, Y.V. ((CJ) SEN, AMARENDRA NATH (J) THAKKAR, M.P. (J) CITATION: 1984 AIR 582 1984 SCR (1) 902 1984 SCC (1) 204 1983 SCALE (2)855 ACT: Writ jurisdiction of Court-Court cannot issue a general writ of mandamus that whenever a criminal is suspected to have taken shelter in a place of worship, the police must enter that place. HEADNOTE: HELD: It is the executive which has to take a policy decision as regards the steps to be taken in a given situation, after taking into account the demands of the Hindustani Andolan & Ors vs State Of Punjab & Ors on 24 November, 1983  1 prevailing situation. It is not that the police should be silent spectators to wanton destruction of life; but the Court cannot commend that the police must enter places of worship forcibly. [902 H; 903 A] JUDGMENT: ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 2989 of 1983. (Under article 32 of the Constitution) R.L. Panjwani, Manoj Saxena and R.D. Upadhaya for the petitioners. The Order of the Court was delivered by CHANDRACHUD, C.J, The question raised in this petition is whether the Government can ask the police not to enter a place of worship, even if criminals are reported to be hiding or harboured therein. It is impossible and undesirable for any Court to issue a general writ of Mandamus to the effect that whenever a criminal is suspected to have taken shelter in a place of worship, the police must enter that place, regardless of the overall situation of law and order. Speaking generally, Courts cannot enforce law and order by issuing general directions without reference to specific instances. The Government has to assess, in the context of the prevailing conditions, the impact of the steps taken to enforce law and order. And, it is the executive which has to take a policy decision as regards the steps to be taken in a given situation, after taking into account the demands of the prevailing situation. We do not commend or suggest that the police should be silent spectators to wanton destruction of life but we cannot, as men of some little experience of law and life, commend that the police must enter places of worship forcibly. While enforcing law and order, the executive cannot be oblivious of the possibility that while solving one problem of law and order, others more acute than the one sought to be solved may arise. That is always a valid and relevant consideration. With these observations, we dismiss this petition filed by two public-spirited organisations through their courageous convenor and secretary respectively. M.L.C. Petition dismissed. Hindustani Andolan & Ors vs State Of Punjab & Ors on 24 November, 1983  2