Archana, F/A 23 Years, v. The Secretary To The

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 15.11.2017

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR H.C.P.No.1027 of 2017 Archana ... Petitioner -vs1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The District Collector & District Magistrate, Vellore District, Vellore-9.

... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records in connection with the order of Detention passed by the second respondent dated 04.06.2017 in C3.D.O.No.52/2017 against the petitioner cousin brother Manikandan male aged 24 years S/o Palani, who is confined at Central Prison, Vellore and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenue before this Court and set him at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.S. Senthil Vel For Respondents:

Mr. V.M.R.Rajentran Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.] The petitioner is the cousing of the detenue, namely, Thiru. Manikandan, S/o Palani, Male, aged 24 years. The detenu has been detained by the 2nd respondent by his order in C3.D.O.No.52/2017, dated 04.06.2017, holding him to be a "Bootlegger", as contemplated under Section 2(b) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.

2. We have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

3. Though several grounds have been raised in the Habeas Corpus Petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would mainly focus his argument on the ground that there is gross violation of procedural safeguards, which would vitiate the detention. The learned counsel, by placing authorities, submitted that the representation made by the petitioner was not considered in time and there was an inordinate and unexplained delay with regard to the same.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition. He would submit that though there was delay in considering the representation, on that score alone, the impugned detention order cannot be quashed. According to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, no prejudice has been caused to the detenu and thus, there is no violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India.

5. The Detention Order in question was passed on 04.06.2017. The petitioner made representations, on 13.07.2017 and dated nil and the same were received on 17.07.2017 and 08.08.2017 respectively. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 17.07.2017 and 08.08.2017. The remarks were duly received on 03.08.2017 and 23.08.2017. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representations on 23.08.2017 and 11.09.2017 respectively.

6. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 20 days and 16 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which 6 days and 6 days were Government Holidays and hence there was a delay of 14 days, and 10 days respectively, in submitting the remarks. Thereafter, there was another delay of 20 days and 19 days in considering the representations, of which 6 days and 7 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was delay of 14 days and 12 days in considering the representations.

7. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu, reported in 2011 (5) SCC 244, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that the procedural safeguards are required to be zealously watched and enforced by the Courts of law and their rigour cannot be allowed to be diluted on the basis of the nature of the alleged activities undertaken by the detenu.

8. In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government, reported in 2007 (2) MWN (Cr.) 145, a Division Bench of this Court has held that the unexplained delay of three days in disposal of the representation made on behalf of the detenu would be sufficient to set aside the order of detention.

9.In Tara Chand vs. State of Anbazhagansthan and others, reported in 1980 (2) SCC 321, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that any inordinate and unexplained delay on the part of the Government in considering the representation renders the very detention illegal.

10. In the subject case, admittedly, there is a delay of 14 days and 10 days respectively in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and 14 days and 12 days in considering the representations. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed.

11.In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in C3.D.O.No.52/2017, dated 04.06.2017, passed by the 2nd respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Thiru. Manikandan male aged 24 years Son of Palani, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. Given the nature of the case, this order will be communicated to the concerned Jail Superintendent by the Registrar General of this Court via Fax. Sd/- Asst.Registrar (CCC) /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar ggs/mrr To:

1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The District Collector & District Magistrate, Vellore District, Vellore-9.

3.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public, Law and Order Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

4. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Vellore.

5.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.1027 of 2017 NR 15/11/2017