Parimala Devi v. State Rep.By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 05.08.2020 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE V.M.VELUMANI H.C.P.No.151 of 2020 Parimala Devi ... Petitioner/Mother of the detenue Vs 1.State Rep. by the Additional Secretary, to Government, (Home), Government of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Gubert Avenue, Puducherry - 605 001.

2.The District Magistrate cum Authorised Officer, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry - 605 009.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records of the detention order vide 17/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2019 dated 20.12.2019 on the file of the Second Respondent and quash the same and produce the petitioner's son Bomb Ravi @ Ravi @ Ravi Varman, S/o.Ramachandran, aged 22 years confined at Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.S.N.Arunkumar For Respondents: Mr.Bharatha Chakravarthy, Public Prosecutor (Puducherry).

O R D E R

(Order of the court was made by N.KIRUBAKARAN.J.,) The matter was heard through "Video Conference". 2.The Mother of the Detenu has filed this Petition challenging the Detention Order passed by the Second Respondent in No.17/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2019 dated 20.12.2019.

3.Heard Mr.S.N.Arunkumar, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner and Mr.Bharatha Chakravarthy, learned Public Prosecutor (Puducherry) appearing for the Respondents.

4. It is seen from the records that the representation sent on behalf of the detenu has not been considered within time frame and there is a delay of 60 days in considering and disposing of the representation.

5.In the decision in "C.Muthuvali Vs. The Principal Secretary to Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009" reported in "[(2017) (1) MWN (Cr.) 270 (DB)]" it has been held that an unexplained delay of nine working days on the part of the Government in considering the representation rendered the detention illegal. Another Division Bench of this Court in "Samaiah Vs.The Secretary to Government" reported in "[(2007)

(4) MWN (Cr.) 145]" has held that an unexplained delay of three days in disposal of the representation made by the detenu would be sufficient to set aside the detention order. 6.Further, a larger Bench of the Supreme Court in "Rekha Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu" reported in "2011 5 SCC 244" has held that "Preventive detention is by nature repugnant to democratic ideas and an anathema to the rule of law. No such law exists in the USA and in England (except during war time). However, Article 22(3)(b) of the Constitution of India permits preventive detention, we cannot hold it illegal but we must confine the power of preventive detention within very narrow limits, otherwise we will be taking away the great right to liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India which was won after long, arduous, historic struggles". 7.

Since there is an unexplained delay in considering the representation submitted by the detenu, the detention order passed by the second respondent is liable to be set aside. 8.Accordingly, the detention order passed by the Second Respondent in No.17/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2019 dated 20.12.2019 is quashed and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., Bomb Ravi @ Ravi @ Ravi Varman, S/o.Ramachandran, aged 22 years confined at Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-VI) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ay

To 1.The Additional Secretary, to Government, (Home), Government of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Gubert Avenue, Puducherry - 605 001.

2.The District Magistrate cum Authorised Officer, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry - 605 009.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

H.C.P.No.151 of 2020 SAI(CO) GMY(14/08/2020)