Amitha Banu, 47 Years v. State Of Tamil Nadu Rep.By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 12.10.2017

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR H.C.P. No.1316 of 2017 Amitha Banu ... Petitioner -Vs1. The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by its Secretary Home,Prohibition and Excise Department (Home) Fort. St.George, Chennai - 600 009

2. The Commissioner of Police, The Commissioner Office, Vepery.

... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records relating to the dentention order in No.262/BCDFGISSV/2017, dated 12.05.2017 passed by the 2nd respondent under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 and set aside the same and direct the respondent to produce the petitioner's brother Mabu Basha, S/o. Khader Basha aged about 55 years the detenu, now confined in Central Prision, Puzhal, Chennai before this Hon'ble Court and set the petitioner's brother Mabu Basha, S/o. Khader Basha aged about 55 years, the detenu herein at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Kaveri Selvam 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 sister of the detenu, namely, Mabu basha, Male, aged about 55 years. The detenu has been detained by the 2nd respondent by his order in Memo No.262/BCDFGISSV/2017, dated 12.05.2017, holding him to be a "

Goonda", as contemplated under 2(f) 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 12.05.2017. The petitioner made a representation, dated 18.07.2017 and the same was received on 20.07.2017. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on the same day, i.e., on 20.07.2017. The remarks were duly received on 31.07.2017. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 23.08.2017.

6. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 10 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which 4 days were Government Holidays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 06 days in submitting the remarks. Thereafter, there was another delay of 22 days in considering the representation, of which 8 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was another inordinate delay of 14 days in considering the representation.

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 Rajasthan 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 an inordinate and unexplained delay of 06 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and 14 days in considering the representation. 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 No.262/BCDFGISSV/2017, dated 12.05.2017, passed by the 2nd respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Mabu Basha, S/o. Khader Basha aged about 55 years, 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/- Assistant Registrar(CS VIII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar rkp To:

1. The Secretary Home, Prohibition and Excise Department (Home) Fort. St.George, Chennai - 600 009

2. The Commissioner of Police, The Commissioner Office, Vepery.

3. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.

4. The Joint Secretary to Government, Public(Law & Order), Fort Saint George, Chennai - 9.

5. The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Madras H.C.P. No.1316 of 2017 GP(CO) CA(12/10/2017)