India, Sept. 23 -- New Delhi

The Delhi High Court has held that an externment order, based solely on minor excise or gambling cases without material demonstrating that the individual is "desperate and dangerous," violates the fundamental right to personal liberty and freedoms.

A bench of justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav further held that an externment order is an extraordinary measure that curtails a citizen's fundamental right to unrestricted movement, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution of India.

"In the absence of any material demonstrating that the petitioner is a 'desperate and dangerous' individual or that witnesses are terrified to come forward, passing an externment order on the basis of minor excise or gambl...