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Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition under-the-colour-of-duty

Under the colour of duty, the expression 'under colour of something' or 'under colour of duty', or 'under colour of office', is not infrequently used in law as well as in common parlance. Whether or not when the act bears the true colour of the office or duty or right, the act may be said to be done under colour of that right, office or duty, it is clear that when the colour is assumed as a cover or a cloak for something which cannot properly be done in performance of the duty or in exercise of the right or office, the act is said to be done under colour of the office or duty or right, Virupaxappa Veerappa Kadampur v. State of Mysore, AIR 1963 SC 849 (852): (1963) 2 Supp SCR 6; see also Bhanuprasad Hariprasad Dave v. State of Gujarat, AIR 1968 SC 1323. [Bombay Police Act, 1951 (22 of 1951), s. 161(1)]

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