National Security Act, 1980
3. Power to make orders detaining certain
persons
(1) The Central Government or the State
Government may,-
(a) if satisfied with
respect to any person that with a view to preventing him from acting in any
manner prejudicial to the defense of India, the relations of India with foreign
powers, or the security of India, or
(b) if
satisfied with respect to any foreigner that with a view to regulating his
continued presence in India or with a view to
making arrangements for his expulsion from India , it is necessary so
to do, make an order directing that such person be detained.
(2) The Central Government or the State
Government may, if satisfied with respect to any person that with a view to preventing
him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or from
acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of Public order or from
acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services
essential to the community it is necessary so to do, make an order directing
that such person be detained.
Explanation.- For the purposes of
this sub-section, "acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of
supplies and services essential to the community" does not include
"acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies of
commodities essential to the community" as defined in the Explanation to
sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Prevention of Black-marketing and
Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, and accordingly, no
order of detention shall be made under this Act on any ground on which an order
of detention may be made under that Act.
(3) If, having regard to the circumstances
prevailing or likely to prevail in any area within the local limits of the
jurisdiction of a District Magistrate or a Commissioner of Police, the State
Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do, it may, by order in
writing, direct, that during such period as may be specified in the order, such
District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police may also, if satisfied as
provided in sub-section (2), exercise the powers conferred by the said
sub-section:
Provided that the period specified in an order
made by the State Government under this sub-section shall not, in the first
Instance, exceed three months, but the State Government may, if satisfied as
aforesaid that it is necessary so to do, amend such order to extend such period
from time to time by any period not exceeding three months at any one time.
(4) When any order is made under this section
by an officer mentioned in sub-section (3), he shall forthwith report the fact
to the State Government to which he is subordinate together with the grounds on
which the order has been made and such other particulars as, in his opinion,
have a bearing on the matter, and no such order shall remain in force for more
than twelve days after the making thereof unless, in the meantime, it has been
approved by the State Government:
Provided that where under section 8 the grounds
of detention are communicated by the officer making the order after five days
but not later than ten days from the date of detention, this sub-section shall
apply subject to the modification that, for the words "twelve days",
the words "fifteen days" shall be substituted.
(5) When any order is made or approved by the
State Government under this section, the State Government shall, within seven
days, report the fact to the Central Government together with the grounds on
which the order has been made and such other particulars as, in the opinion of
the State Government, have a bearing on the necessity for the order.