PRAYAGRAJ, April 24 -- The Allahabad high court has observed that merely on the basis of one or two criminal cases, a person cannot be branded a "goonda" under the UP Control of Goondas Act, 1970.

With this observation, the high court set aside a six-month externment order dated February 12, 2025 issued by the additional district magistrate (finance and revenue), Bulandshahr, which was later upheld by the commissioner, Meerut division, in appeal on June 2,2025.

The high court added that such punitive action of the state causes irreparable damage to the reputation of such a person and his family.

In a judgment dated April 20, Justice Sandeep Jain allowed a writ petition filed by the accused Satendra.

The proceedings were initiated base...