Holding

The Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966, the 1966/1970 Rules and the 1971 circular are valid and do not contravene Articles 14, 19(1)(c) or 19(4) of the Constitution.

Summary

The Delhi Police Non‑Gazetted Karmachari Sangh, formed by non‑gazetted police officers, obtained government recognition under the Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966 and its Rules. The 1970 amendment to the Rules and a 1971 circular withdrew that recognition and imposed rank‑based restrictions on membership. The Sangh challenged the Act, the Rules and the circular as violative of Articles 19(1)(c) and 14 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court held that the Act, the Rules and the circular are constitutionally valid, as Parliament may restrict the fundamental right to form associations for members of the police force under Article 33 and Article 19(4) in the interest of discipline and public order. Consequently, the petition was dismissed and the appeal rejected.

Issues considered

Whether the Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966 and its Rules infringe Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.
Whether the same provisions violate Article 14 by being arbitrary.
Whether the right to recognition of an association is part of the freedom of association under Article 19(1)(c).
Whether the restrictions are permissible under Article 33 and Article 19(4).

Legislation cited

Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966s. 3, s. 4, s. 5, s. 6
Trade Union Act, 1926

Subjects

Freedom of associationArticle 19(1)(c)Article 33Police force disciplineRecognition of unionConstitutional validityArticle 14Public orderRule‑making authority

Judgment

348 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1987] I S.C.R.
HELD: 1.1 The Police Force (l~estriction of Rights) Act (33 of) 1966,
A the Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Rules 1966 (as amended by the 1970
Rules) and the circular dated 1.4.1971 are all constitutionally valid. They do
not offend the provisions of Articles 14 and 19(1Xc) of the Constitution. [350
C, 355 E-F]
1.2 The right under Article l9(1Xc) is not. absolute. Article 19(4)
B specifically empowers the State to make any law to fetter, abridge or abrogate
any of the rights under Article 19(1Xc) in the interest of public order and other
considerations. While the right to freedom of association is fundamental,
recognition of such association is not a fundamental rights and the Parliament
can by law regu~te the working of sum .associations by imposing conditions
and restrictions on such functions. [3:55 E, 356 F)
C 1.3 The fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 19(1Xc) can be
claimed by Government servants. A government servant may not lose his right
by joining government service. Article 33 which confers power on the
Parliament to abridge or abrogate such rights in their application to the
Armed Forces and other similar forces shows that such rights are available to
D all citizens, including government serv:mts. What has happened in this case is
only to impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of discipline and public
order. [356 G-H] '
1.4 Rule 11 read with Rule 3(c)ofthe Amended Police Force(Restriction
of Rights) Rules, 1966 has to be judged keeping in mind the character of the
employees to whom it applies. It is true 1that the rules impose a restriction on the
E right to form association. It virtually compels a government servant lo
withdraw his membership of the association as soon as recognition accorded to
the said association is withdrawn or If, after the association is formed, no
.• recognition is accorded to it within six months. In other words, the right to form
an association is conditioned by the e:<istence of the ·recognition of the said
association by the government. If thE: association obtains recognition and
F continues to enjoy it, government servants can become members of the said
association, if the said association does not secure recognition from the
government or recognition granted to it is withdrawn, government servants
must cease to be members of the said asmciation. That is the plain effect of the
impugned rule. These rules are proteded by Articles 33 and 19(4) of the
Constitution. Besides, it is settled law that the right guaranteed by Article
G 19(1 Xc)to form associations does not involve a guaranteed right to recognition
also. [357 A-CJ ·

1.5 Section 3 of the Police Force (Restriction of Rights) Act permits the
rule making authority to define any group of Police Force that can form an
Association. It also gives power to prescribe the nature of activity that each such
H association of members can indulge in. lt, therefore, follows that if rules can be
D.P. v. UNION OF INDIA [KHALID, J.) 349

framed defining this aspect, a rule can also be framed enablmg the authorities to A
y
revoke or cancel recognition once accorded, if the activities offended the rules.
Besides the classification based on ranking has its own rationale behind it. The
Court is dealing with a Force m which discipline is the most important pre-
requisite. Non-gazetted officers consist of men of all ranks; the lowest citdre and
officers who are superior to them. If all the non-gazetted officers are grouped
together irrespective of rank, it is bound to affect discipline. It was perhaps, B
') realismg the need to preserve disciplme that the changes in the rule were
effected. [ 357E, G]

·Damyanh' Naranga v. 'Jhe Union of India & Ors., [1971]3 SCR840; Ous
-.,\ Kutilingal Achudan Nair & Ors., v. Union of India & Ors., [1976] 2 SCR 769;
and Raghubar Dayal Jai Prakash v. 'Jhe Union of India & Ors., [1962] 3 SCR c
547 followed.
-1
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 222 (N) of
1973.
D
From the Judgment and Order dated 13.3.1972 of the Delhi High Court
in Civil Writ No. 731 of 1971.

M.K. Dua, Aman Vachher and S.K. Mehta for the Appellants.

r B. Datta, Additional Solicitor General, G.D. Gupta and Mr. C.V. Subba E
Rao for the Respondents.

The Jud~ent of the Court was delivered by
•

,
KHALID, J. I. This appeal by certificate is directed against the
' . Judgment ·of a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, in C.W. No. 731 of F
· 1971. The prayer in the Writ Petition is for the issuance ofan appropriate writ,
order or direction declaring (a) the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act
No. 33 of 1966 (for short the Act) as ultra vires the Constituti.on,

(b) the Police Forces (Restriction of Rights} Rules, 1966 and Police
Forces (Restriction of Rights) Amendment Rules, 1970 (for short the Rules) as . G
ultra vires of Act 33 of 1966 and Jhe Constitution of India,

'!- (c) that the Circular dated 1st April, 1971 as invalid, illegal, ultn\ vires,
null and void and (d) for a declaration that the Delhi Police Non Gazetted
Kannchari Sangh, petitioner No. I in the Writ Petition, is a legally and validly
constituted service organisation. H
350 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1987] I S.C.R.

A 2. The first appellant is' the Non-Gazetted Karmachari Sangh (for short
.the 'Sangh) and the appellant Nos. 2 to 7, its members. The High Court
dismissed the petition holding that the challenge was not sustainable and that
neither the Act nor the Rules violated any provisions of the Constitution.

The High Court dealt at length with the preliminary objections that a
· B chalienge based on the violation of any fundamental right was not permissible
in view of the emergency declared by the President of India, in December, 1977.
This need not detain us now in this Judgment.
'
3. The appellants' case is that the Act referred above violates Article
19(1Xc) of the Constitution of India and that the restrictions jmposed by it,
being
c. ·members arbitrary, violates Article 14.of the Constitution. _The Non-Gazetted
of the .Delhi Police Force wanted to form an organisation of their own
and for that purpo5e constituted the Karmacruiri Union in 1966 and applied for
·its
registration \mder the Trade Union Act, 1926. Initially the registration asked
for was declined. Then Act 33 of 1966 was enacted. It came into force on 2nd
December, 1966. An application for recognition was again made on 9th
D December, 1966. Recognition was granted by the Central Government on 12th
December, 1966. The Non-Gazetted members of the Delhi Police Force were
permitted to become members o( the Sangh. On 12th December, 1966, the
· Central Goveminent made rules under the Act which were amended in
·December, 1970. The Circular in question was issued under these rules. The
Circular 'attempiS to derecogiiise the Sangh. This occassioned the filing of the
E writ petition.. · ·

4. Before considering' the rival contentions urged before us, it would be
.· useful to refer to the salient features of the Aci to appreciate its ambit and the
· restrictions imj>osCd by its proviSions. The Act was enacted to delineate the
restrictions imposed of the rights conferred by part III of the Constitution, in
F their application to the members of the forces charged with the maintenance of
public order so as ·to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the
maintenance of discipline among them. The· Parliament obviously has this ·
power under Article 3j. of the Constitution of India. The provisions of the Act
seek to place certain restrictions on members of the police force in exercise of
their fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 19( l Xc) to form Association or
G Unions. Section 3 of the Act reads as follcl'ws: . .

"3(1) No member of a police force shall without the express
sanction of the Central Government or .of the prescribed
authority- (a) be a member of, or be associated in any way
with, any trade union, labour union, political association or
H with any class of trade unions,· labour unions or political
D.P. v. UNION OF INDIA, [KHALID, J.J 351
y
associations; or (b) be a member of, or be associated in any way A
with, any other society, institution, association or organisation
that is not recognised as part of the force of which he is a
membe"r oF is not of a purely social, recretional or religious
nature; or (c) communicate with the press or publish or cause to
be published any book, letter or other document .except where
) such communicatio_n or publication is in the bona fide discharge · B
of his duties or is of a purely literary, artistic or scientific
character or is of a prescribed nature.

Explanation: If any question arises as to whether any society,
institution, association or organisation is of a purely social,
recretional or religious nature under clause· (b) of this C
subsection, the decision of the Central Government thereon
shall be final.

(2) No member of a police force shall participate in or address,
any meeting or take part in any demonstration organised by any
body of persons for any political purposes or for such other D
. purposes as may be prescribed."

Section 4 of the Act provides for penalties if Section 3 is contravened by·
any person. Section 5 gives power to the Central Government by notification in .
the official gazette, to amend the schedule by including therein any -other
enactment relating to a force charged with the maintenance of public order or E
omit therefrom any enactment already specified therein . .Section 6 gives the rule
making power to the Central Government.

5. The only contention that now survives is· whether the impugned_
statute, rules and orders are violative of the rights of the appellants guaranteed
-. under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of lildia. This appeal could be F
disposed of by a short Order. Appellants No. 2 to 7 are no longer in service.
They have been dismissed. As such they do not have the necessary locus standi
to sustain this petition. But the appellants' counsel submitted that the first
petitioner-the Sangh, was still interested in pursuing this appeal and that
persuaded us to hear the appeal on merits.
G
6. It is true that. recognition was given. to· the Sangh originally.
Subsequently by order dated !st April, 1971, the Sangh was derecognized. This
was pursuant to the amended rules. Rule 3 provided that "no member of the
police forces shall participate in, or address, any meeting or take part in any ·
demonstration organised by any body of persons (a) for the purpose of
protesting against any of the provisions of the Act or these rules or any"other H
352 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1987) I S.C.R.

A rules made under the Act; or (b)for the purpose of protesting against any
disciplinary action taken proposed to be taken against him or against any other
member of a police force; or (c) for any purpose connected with any matter
pertaining to his remuneration or other conditions of service or his condition of
work or living condition, or the remuneration, other conditions, of any other
member or members of a police force.
B
"Provided that nothing contained in clause(c) shall preclude a memberof
a police force from participating in a meeting convened by an association of
which he is a member and which has been accorded sanction under sub-section /
(I) of section 3 of the Act, where such meeting is in pursuance of or for the )-...-
furtherance of, the objects of such association."
c
The above rules were amended by a notification dated 19th December, r
1970 the material change for our purpme being an amendment in the proviso to
clause (c) of rule 3. The original proviso to clause(c) was substituted by another
proviso which reads as follows: ·
,
D "Provided that nothing contained in clause (c) shall preclude a
member of a police force from participating in a meeting-{i)
which is convened by an association of police-officers of the the
same rank of which he is a member and which has been granted
recognition under. clause (b) ofsub-section (I) ofsection 3 of the
Act;
E
(ii) which has been specifically provided for in the articles of
association or/ and has been, by general or special order,
permitted by the Inspecto' General of Police having regard to
the object of such meeting· and other relevant factors; and

.F (iv) which has been convened to consider the agenda circulated
to all concerned according to the relevant provisions of the
articles of association, after giving intimation in advance to the
Inspector General of PoJic,, or an officer nominated by him."
(Emphasis supplied).

G Rule 5 was added to the Rules by virtue of which minutes had to be
recorded of the meetings of a recognisea association. The Inspector General of
Police could send observers by virtue of rule 6 to such meetings. Outsiders were
prohibited fr~m attending the meetings of the association without permission
of the Inspector General of Police by Rule 7. Rules .8, 9 & 11 may also be
uc;efully read:
H
D.P. v. UNION OF INDIA [KHALID, J.) 353

"8. Recognition: Members of police force belonging to the same A
rank desiring to form an association may make an·application
for the grant of recognition under clause (b) of sub-section (I) of
section 3 and such application shall be in writing under the hand
of a representation of such association addressed to the ·
Inspector General of Police who shall be the authority to grant,
) refuse or revoke such recognition; B

Provided that before refusing or revoking recognition, the
Association shall be given a reasonable opportunity of making
representation against the proposed action."

"9. Suspension of recognition: The Inspector General of Police c
may in the interests of the general public or for the maintenance
of discipline in the police"force and with the prior approval· of
the Gentral Government, the State Goven•ment or as the case
may be the Administrator of the Union Territory suspend the
recognition granted under rule 8 for a period not exceeding
three months which may be extended for a further period of D
three months by the Central Government, State Government or
as the case may be the Administrator of the Union Territory so
however that the total period for which such recognition may be
suspended shall, not, in any case, exceed six months."

"I I. Special provision regarding recognition already granted: E

- Recognition granted prior to the commencement of the
Police Forces (Re1triction of Rights) Amendment Rules, 1970,
to any association the articles of association of which are not in
conformity with these rules shall, unless the said articles of
--\ association are brought in conformity with ihe provisions of F
}.' these rules within a period of thirty days, stano revoked on the
expiry of the said period."

7. It is the change effected by the new Proviso to Rule 3( c) which has
come in for attack at the hands of the appellants. Previously all non-gazetted
officers of the Delhi Police Department could be members of the Sangh. Now, G
the amended proviso to rule 3(c) mandates that only members of the Police ·
Force.having the sa~e rank could constitute themselves into one Association.
The effect of this amended rule is that the Sangh will have to be composed of
various splinter associations consisting of members· holding different ranks.
This according to the appellants vio.lates not only Article 19(l)(c) which
protects freedom of association, but also the provisions of the Act
.H
354 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1987] I S.C. R.

A The immediate provocation for filing the writ petition was the Circular
by which the recognition granted to the Sangh was revoked. The operative part
of the Circular reads as follows:

"Rule 11 of the Police Force (Restriction of Rights)
Amendment Rules, 1970 published vide extraordinary Gazette
B
of India notification No. GSR-2049 dated 19-12-70 lays down
that recognition granted prior to the commencement of these
rules, to any associati Jn the articles of which are not in
conformity with these rules shall unless the articles are brought
in conformity with the provisions of these rules within a period
of 30 days, stand revoked on the expiry of the said period.
c
2. Whereas the Constitution of.the Delhi Police Non-
Gazetted Karmchari Sa ogh which was granted recognition. vide
Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs letter
No.8/70/66-P.I., dated 12-12-66 and which contains a number
D of provisions not in conformity with the above rules, the
recognition already granted to the Delhi Police Non-Gazetted
Karmachari Sangh, stands revoked.

3. This may be brought to the notice of all ranks.

4. A copy of thi,; circular may be published in the Delhi
E
Police Gazette."

The appellants' counsel subm ,ts that recogmUon of the associat10n
carries ',Vith it the right to continue the association as such. It is a right flowing
from the fact of recognition. To dereoognise the association in effect offends
-
against the freedom of association. It is urged that once the Government had
F
granted recognition to the Sangh ar.d approved its constitution neither the
Parliament nor any' delegated authority can take away that recognition Or
dictate to the association who could be its members. The right available to the
members of the association at the C•Jmm,encement should continue as such
without any hindrance.
G
8. Before considering the questions of law raised by the appellants'
counsel with reference to the decided cases, it would be useful to bear in mind
the fact that this association consists of members of Police Force who by virtue
of this fact alone stands on a different footing from other associations. The
Constitution of India has taken care to ·lay down limitations on such
H associations from exercising rights under Article 19(1)(c). Article 33 read with
D.P. v. UNION OF INDIA [KHALID, J.] 355

Article 19(4) of the Constitution offers an effective reply to the contention A
raised by the appellants. Artide 33 reads as follows:

''Parliament may, by law, determine to what extent any of the
rights conferred by this Part shall, in their application to the
members of the Armed Forces or the Forces charged with the
maintenance of public order, be restricted orabroagated so as to B
ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance
of discipline among them."

:._-1: Article 19(4) reads as follws:

"Nothing in sub clause (c) of the said. clause shall affect the C
operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent
the State from making· any law imposing, in the interests of the
sovereignty and integrity of India or public order or morality,
reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by
the said sub-clause."
D
That the Sangh and its members come within the ambit of Article 33
cannot be disputed. The provisions of the Act and rules taking away or
abridging the freedom of assOciation have been. mafie strictly in conformity
with Article 33. The right under Article 19(l)(c) is not absolute. Article 19(4)
specifically empowers the State t.o make any law to fetter, abridge or abrogate
any of the rights under Article 19(1 )( c) in the interest of public order and other E
considerations. Thus the attack against the Act and rulescan be successfully
met with reference to these two Articles as members of the Police Force, like the
appellants herein, are at. a less advantageous position, curtailment of whose
rights under Article 19( I)(c) comes squarely within Article 33 in the interest of
discipline an\l public order. This conclusion of ours is sufficient to dispose of
this appeal. However, we will deal with the submissions made before us for the F
completeness of the Judgment. ·

9. The scope of Article 19(1)(c) came up for consideration before this
Court in Damyanti Naranga v. The Union of India & Ors.. (1971] 3 SCR 840.
The question related to the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, a Society registered
under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Parliament enacted the Hindi G
Sahitya Sammelan Act under which outsiders were permitted to become
members of the Sammelan without the volition of the original 1nembers. This
was challenged and this Court held that any law altering the compositjon of the
Association compulsorily will be a breach of the right to form the association
. because it violated the composite right of forming an association and the. right
H
to continue it as the original members desired it.
356 SUPREME COURT RrPORTS [1987] I S.C.R.

A IO. Here we have an entirely different situation since we are dealing with a
group distinct in its nature and composition from others. Here we are dealing
with a force that is invested with powers to roaintain public order. Article 33
enables Parliament to restrict or abrogate the fundamental rights in their
relation to the Armed Forces including Police Force. In Ous Kutilingal
Achudan Nair & Ors., v. Union India & Ors., [1976] 2 SCR 769 this Court had
B to consider two questions; whether the employees of the defence establishment
such as cooks, barbers and like civil employees were "members of the Armed
Forces" and if so whether they could be validly deprived of their right to form
unions in violation of Article 19( I)( c). This .Court held that they fell within the
category of members of the Armed Forces End that the Central Government ~
was competent by notification to make rules restricting or curtailing their right
C to form associations, Article 19(1)(c) not withstanding.

11. In Raghubar Dayal lai Prakash v. The Union of India and Ors.,
[1962] 3 SCR 547. this Court had to deal w'th this question in relation to the
functions of an incorporated body the objects of which were, interalia, to
regulate forward transactions in the sale and purchase of various commodities,
D Freedom of association is a fundamental rig.ht. It was contended that if a law
regulated the recognition 'of an association t.nder certain conditions subject to
which alone recognition could be accorded or continued, such conditions were
bad. This Court had to consider whether the freedom of association implied or
involved a guaranteed right to recognition also. The contention was that if the
· object of an association was lawful, no restriction could be placed upon it
E except in the interest of public order and th at freedom to form an association
carried with it the right to determine its internal arrangements also. Repelling
this contention this Court held that restrictions cannot be imposed by statute
for the purpose of regulating control of sw;h associations. While the right to
· freedom of association is fundamental, recognition of such association is not a ~
F fundamental right and the Parliament can by law regulate the working of such ...
associations by imposing conditions and restrictions on such functions.

12. It cannot be disputed that the fundamental rights guaranteed by
Article 19(l)(c) can be claimed by Gov::rnment servants. A Government
servant may not lose its right by joining Government service. Article 33 which
confers power on the Parliament to abriC.ge or abrogate such rights in their
G application to the Armed Forces and other similar forces shows that such rights
are available to all citizens, including Gov<rnment servants. But it is, however,
necessary to remember that Article 19 conf~rs fundamental rights which are not
absolute but are subject to reasonable restrictions. What has happened in this
case is only to impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of discipline and
H public order.
D.P. v. UNION OF INDIA [KHALID, J.] 357

13. The validity of the impugned rule has to be judged keeping in mind A
the character of the employees we are dealing with. It is true that the rules
impose a restriction on the right to form association. It virtually compels a
Governmen_t servant to withdraw his membership of the associaion as soon as
recognition accorded to the said association is withdrawn or if, after the
association is formed, no recognition is accorded to it within six months. In
ot)ler words, the right to form an association is conditioned by the existence of B
the recognition of the said association by the Government. If the association
affairs recognition and continues to enjoy it, Government servants can become
members of the said association; if the said association does not secure
recognition from the Government or recogniti~n granted to it is withdrawn,
Government servants must cease to be members of the said .association. That is
the plain effect of the impugned rule. These rules are protected by Articles 33 C
and 19(4) of the Constitution. Besides, it is settled law that the right guaranteed
by Article 19(l)(c) to form associations does not involve a guaranteed right to
recognition also.

14. The main grievance of the appellants is that the first appellant- D
Sangh when recognised, comprised of Police Officers of various ranks, the
common factor being ·that all its members were non-gazetted police officers.
This composition was changed by the impugned rules. Not only is the
composition changed; the entire Sangh stood derecognised for failure to alter
its constitution complying with the new rules. This attack cannot be sustained.
Section 3 of the Act permits the rule making authority to define any group of E
Police Force that can form an Association. It also gives power to prescribe the
nature of activity that each such association of members can indulge in. It,
therefore, follows that if rules ran be framed defining this aspect, a rule can also
be framed enabling the authorities to revoked or cancel recognition once
accorded, if the activities offended the rules.
F

15. The further grievance of the appellant is that non-gazetted officers
who once formed one block have been further di~ided with reference to ranks
and· that this again is an inroad into their right under. Article 19(l)(c). This
submission has been already met. Besides, this classification based on ranking
has its own rationale behind it. We are dealing with a Force in which discipline G
is the· most important pre-requisite. Non-gazetted officers consist of men of all
ranks; the lowest cadre and officers who are superior to them. If all the non-
gazetted officers are grouped together irrespective of rank, it is bound to affect
discipline. It was perhaps, realising the need to preserve discipline that the
changes in the rule were effected. We are. not satisfied that there has been
violation of any law in doing so. H
358 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1987] I S.C.R.

A On a careful consideration of the questions involved in this appeal, we
hold that the High Court was right in its c'ecision. We accordingly dismiss the
appeal.

S.R. Appeal dismissed.
B