‘Curb on right to liberty’: Allahabad High Court quashes history sheet against man

The Allahabad High Court recently struck down a Class-B history sheet against a man, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to justify classifying him as a professional or expert criminal warranting lifelong police monitoring. In an August 14 order, Justices J J Munir and Tarun Saxena noted that a hasty approach should not be taken when an SP-endorsed Class B history sheet is opened, as it could severely curtail the individual’s right to liberty guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Although the petitioner had eight criminal cases registered against him over the years, none placed him in the category of a professional criminal as defined by Uttar Pradesh Police Regulations. The court stressed that cases necessitating such curtailment must be carefully identified and classified, highlighting the heightened significance of constitutional rights in the post-Constitution era.