Let me point out that arrest and detention under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code is NOT punitive but preventive in nature. It is for preventing the commission of some crime which can otherwise be not prevented. So, it is not that you were arrested for the commission of a crime. It was only to prevent a future crime, which the police thought you were likely to commit. And, this may have been the subjective judgment of the police officer concerned.
In view of this, arrest (and detention) under Section 151 of the Cr.P.C. is considered less serious than an arrest and detention in respect of an actual crime which has already been committed.
So, generally speaking, an arrest under Section 151 Cr.P.C. several years ago should not come in the way of your getting a government job. At the same time, you must transparently give details of such arrest in the appropriate column (such as, “Whether you have ever been arrested?”) in the forms required to be filled up at the time of taking up employment in the government service. If you conceal this information, then in future you may have to face departmental action for concealing material information or misrepresenting the material facts.
Dr. Ashok Dhamija is a New Delhi based Supreme Court Advocate and author of law books. Read more about him by clicking here. List of his Forum Replies. List of his other articles. List of his Quora Answers. List of his YouTube Videos.
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