News Context

• The Supreme Court reaffirmed that grounds of arrest must be communicated to the accused in a language they understand.
• The SC held that mere pro forma grounds or vague statements do not satisfy Article 22(1) requirements.
• The ruling strengthened constitutional protections against arbitrary arrest.

Constitutional Provisions on Arrest — Key Facts

• Article 22 provides specific constitutional protections against arrest and detention.
• Article 22(1): No person arrested shall be detained without being informed of the grounds of arrest.
• Article 22(1): Right to consult and be defended by a lawyer of their choice.
• Article 22(2): Every arrested person must be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.
• Article 21: Right to Life and Personal Liberty — any arrest procedure must be fair, just and reasonable.

Procedural Safeguards Under Article 22 — Key Facts

• Three key rights under Article 22(1) and 22(2): right to be informed of grounds of arrest; right to legal counsel of choice; right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours.
• Failure to follow these safeguards makes detention unconstitutional and illegal.
• Article 22(3) exception: these rights do not apply to enemy aliens and persons under preventive detention laws.

Arrest vs Preventive Detention — Concepts for Prelims

Court Guidelines on Arrest — Key Facts

• D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal (1997): SC laid down detailed guidelines for arrest including visible identification, memo of arrest, and notification to relatives.
• Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar (2014): SC directed no automatic arrest under offences punishable below 7 years without proper assessment.
• Satender Kumar Antil vs CBI (2022): SC issued directions to minimise unnecessary arrests and ensure bail considerations.

Preventive Detention — Key Facts

• Articles 22(4) to 22(7) deal with preventive detention.
• A person under preventive detention must be informed of grounds (except against public interest).
• Must be reviewed by an Advisory Board within 3 months.
• Key preventive detention laws: NSA (National Security Act, 1980), COFEPOSA, UAPA, PSA (J&K).

West Nile Virus Outbreak — News Context

• Greece reported a significant increase in West Nile Virus (WNV) infections, with 110 total cases and 9 deaths.
• Authorities stepped up fumigation in Athens to control mosquito populations.

West Nile Virus — Key Facts for Prelims

• WNV is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family, flavivirus genus.
• First isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
• Identified in birds in the Nile Delta region in 1953 (WHO).
• Commonly found in Africa, Europe, Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
• Birds serve as reservoir hosts of WNV. Principal vector: mosquitoes of the genus Culex.

WNV Transmission — Key Facts

• Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds and then transmit the virus to humans.
• May also spread through contact with infected animals’ blood or other tissues.
• Rare transmission: organ transplant, blood transfusions, and transplacental transmission.
• No human-to-human transmission through casual contact documented.

WNV Symptoms and Treatment — Key Facts

• 80% of cases are asymptomatic.
• Symptoms: fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
• Severe cases: neurological symptoms including neck stiffness, stupor, coma, tremors, paralysis.
• No vaccine available for humans. Treatment: supportive care including hospitalisation, intravenous fluids, and respiratory support.