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Delhi HC Quashes 5-Year-Old Look Out Circulars Against NDTV Founders, Upholds Article 21 Right to Travel

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
20 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:Over 5 yearsArticle 2120192021
Bodies:Delhi High CourtBureau of Immigration (BoI)Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Delhi HC quashed LOCs from 2019 and 2021 against NDTV founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy, citing violation of Article 21.

2.The court held that a five-year restriction without a chargesheet was disproportionate, but asked the Roys to furnish an undertaking to cooperate.

3.This case tests the limits of state power under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the fundamental right to travel.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Delhi High Court ruled that prolonged Look Out Circulars (LOCs) restricting travel are a disproportionate and arbitrary violation of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21. This judgment emphasizes the balance between state investigative powers and individual rights, a crucial area for polity questions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Key ArticleArticle 21 of Constitution
Key AgencyBureau of Immigration (BoI)
Duration of LOCOver 5 years (since 2019)
Key LegislationPrevention of Corruption Act

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Key Article: Article 21 of Constitution
  • ›Key Agency: Bureau of Immigration (BoI)
  • ›Target this Data: Over 5 years (duration of LOC from 2019 to quashing in 2026)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Bureau of Immigration (BoI) under Ministry of Home Affairs
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to life and personal liberty)

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which government agency is responsible for issuing Look Out Circulars (LOCs) in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the recent Delhi High Court judgment on Look Out Circulars:

1. The court quashed LOCs issued against the petitioners, holding they violated the right to life under Article 21.

2. The LOCs were issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the year 2021.

3. The court noted that the petitioners had been subjected to the LOCs for over five years without a chargesheet being filed.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

For how long had the Look Out Circulars (LOCs) been in effect against the petitioners before being quashed by the Delhi High Court?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary constitutional principle invoked by the Delhi High Court to quash the prolonged Look Out Circulars?

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