Reviewed case brief
Arun Ghosh v. State of West Bengal
AIR 1970 SC 1228
The leading authority on distinguishing "public order" from "law and order," using the concentric circles / ripple analogy.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Year
- 1970
- Subjects
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Reviewed
- 2026-06-29
Rule established
Distinction between 'public order' and 'law and order': public order is the widest ripple in a pond (community-wide impact); mere law and order is the ripple closest to the pebble (individual impact).
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
AIR
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.