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The Control of Disorderly and Dangerous Persons (Goondas) Act, 1954 (East Bengal Act)

( ACT NO. IV OF 1954 )

Declaration of goondas and dangerous goondas
13. (1) If the Tribunal is satisfied, as a result of enquiry held under this Act, that the person complained against-
 
 
 
 
(i) frequents for immoral purposes houses or localities inhabited by prostitutes; or
 
 
 
 
(ii) frequents resorts of vice such as drinking or gambling dens, or places where opium or other intoxicating drugs are smoked or otherwise consumed; or
 
 
 
 
(iii) generally appears in public while drunk; or
 
 
 
 
(iv) is addicted to smoking opium; or
 
 
 
 
(v) uses obscene or abusive language in public; or
 
 
 
 
(vi) makes fraudulent collection in the name of charity;
 
 
 
 
(vii) is involved in affray, rowdism or acts of intimidation or violence in any place private or public so as to cause alarm to the people living or frequenting the neighbourhood;
 
 
 
 
it shall declare that such person is a goonda and direct that his name be publicly notified in the prescribed manner, and placed on the prescribed list of goondas.
 
 
 
 
(2) If the Tribunal is satisfied, as a result of enquiry as aforesaid, that any person complained against-
 
 
 
 
(i) having previously been declared a goonda has since such declaration acted in any manner specified in the preceding sub-section, or has contravened any prohibitory order published under section 15 made in respect of him by the Tribunal; or
 
 
 
 
(ii) corrupts young persons, by initiating them in the practice of any vice which if established against any person to the satisfaction of the Tribunal would entail his being declared a goonda or a dangerous goonda under this section; or
 
 
 
 
(iii) annoys or molests other persons, particularly women or young persons; or
 
 
 
 
(iv) publishes, distributes, circulates, sells or offers for sale an obscene book or picture or other objects; or
 
 
(v) does obscene acts including wilfully exposing his person in public; or
 
 
 
 
(vi) insults the modesty of women by using foul language or making indecent sounds or gestures, or by exposure of his person or the person of any other individual or of any object or otherwise howsoever; or
 
 
 
 
(vii) engages in kidnapping or seducing women or young persons or procuring women or young persons for immoral purposes; or
 
 
 
 
(viii) indulges in unnatural carnal intercourse; or
 
 
 
 
(ix) keeps a drinking or gambling den, or place where opium or other intoxicating drugs are smoked or otherwise consumed, or makes livelihood out of such den or place by acting as a tout or otherwise howsoever, or engages in the illicit manufacture or sale of liquor or opium or other intoxicating drugs; or
 
 
 
 
(x) behaves riotously in public by entering into affrays, or otherwise howsoever; or
 
 
 
 
(xi) causes fear or alarm to the public or any section or member thereof, by issuing threats verbally or in writing, or by making, publishing or circulating false statements, rumours or reports; or
 
 
 
 
(xii) is a bully, who assaults or threatens persons with the object of causing fear or alarm, or to compel them to act or not to act in a manner in which they are not bound to act, or as the case may be are entitled to act; or
 
 
 
 
(xiii) makes livelihood, or extorts money or other property, or seeks any concession or favour from any one, by any form of intimidation; or
 
 
 
 
(xiv) utters counterfeit coins; or
 
 
 
 
(xv) is by habit a smuggler of goods through customs or octroi or other tax barriers, without payment of the requisite duty or tax or in contravention of a lawful order prohibiting the export or import across such barriers; or
 
 
 
 
(xvi) is by habit a forger; or
 
 
 
 
(xvii) makes a livelihood out of, or otherwise practices whether by himself or in association with other persons, the receiving or disposal of stolen property; or(xviii) makes a livelihood by cheating, fraud, black marketing (that is to say, engaging in transactions involving the transfer, sale or movement of goods in contravention of any lawful order controlling such transfer, sale or movement), acting as an intermediary between bribe givers and corrupt officials or persons in public life, or by any other corrupt or dishonest means;
 
 
 
 
it shall declare that such person is a dangerous goonda, and shall direct that his name be publicly notified in the prescribed manner, and be placed on the prescribed list of dangerous goondas.

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Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs