India, Sept. 16 -- PRAYAGRAJ The Allahabad high court has said that the Goondas Act is being used as a tool of oppression by Uttar Pradesh bureaucrats and the state despite the court's consistent rulings on the issue.

A bench of Justice Sandeep Jain held that the bureaucracy must stop issuing illegal and arbitrary orders, or else it will have to face punitive damages.

The observations were made while allowing a writ petition filed by Abhishek Tyagi, who had challenged proceedings initiated against him under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, 1970.

The court quashed the orders passed by the additional commissioner of police, Ghaziabad, and the commissioner, Meerut division, and awarded Rs.50,000 as damages to the petitioner.

The...