India

Gauhati High Court Quashes NSA Detention of Kaziranga Activist Pranab Doley

By Shinjini Ghosh

The Gauhati High Court on Friday annulled the National Security Act detention of Pranab Doley, a 40‑year‑old lands‑rights activist, after he had been held for more than 115 days. The bench, consisting of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund, held that the Assam government had not considered whether ordinary laws could address Doley’s activities. Doley, convener of the Greater Kaziranga Land and Human Rights Committee, has long opposed a proposed luxury hotel near Kaziranga National Park and warned of displacement of indigenous villagers.

The court noted that the detention order was based on stale criminal cases; Doley had already been acquitted in nine of the thirteen cases cited by the state. Only three proceedings were still active and one was at the evidence stage. The judges said that the authorities had “adopted a shortcut” by detaining Doley on the strength of these outdated cases.

Regarding the detention order’s mention of Doley’s foreign visits, the court found that the state had not provided evidence of any anti‑India activity. It stated that repetitive foreign travel alone does not justify preventive detention or restrict a person’s right to travel abroad. The judgment also pointed out that the authorities had not supplied material showing how Doley’s foreign visits or receipt of foreign exchange threatened state security or public order.

The court further observed that allegations of Doley’s involvement in road blockades and damage to public property were vague and lacked supporting details. "Thus, the allegations against the petitioner are vague and bereft of material particulars," the bench said.

Senior advocate Santanu Borthakur, who represented Doley, said that the state’s failure to provide the detention documents was another reason the court quashed the order.

Doley was arrested on July 12 by Golaghat police in connection with the protests. He was granted bail by a local court on July 29, but the Assam government invoked the NSA a day later, claiming his activities were prejudicial to public order and state security. An Additional Sessions Judge in Golaghat had noted that video footage did not show a direct attack on police and that no deadly weapon had been seized during the investigation.