Karthick v. State Of Tamilnadu, Rep. By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 26.03.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN Karthick
...Petitioner/Detenue
Vs.
1.State of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 600 007.
3.The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Chennai.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison - II, Puzhal, Chennai -600 066.
...Respondents
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to 1/8
issue Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records relating to the detention order in Memo No.606/BCDFGISSSV/2023, dated 21.11.2023, passed by the 2nd respondent under the Tamilnadu Act 14 of the 1982 and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the petitioner Thiru Karthick S/o.Pandu Reddy, aged about 29 years, the detenu, now confined in Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : M/s.R.Muthukumar For Respondents : Mr.E. Raj Thilak Additional Public Prosecutor Assisted by Aravind.C
O R D E R
M.S.RAMESH , J.
and SUNDER MOHAN, J.
The petitioner/detenu, aged about 29 years, S/o.Pandu Reddy, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the second respondent, dated 21.11.2023, branding him as "Goonda" under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 [Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982].
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2.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. 3.Though several grounds were raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is stated that the detention order is liable to be quashed on the sole ground that the Remand Order in Tamil version differs from the English version.
4. The English version of Remand Order reads that "Grounds of the case and free legal aid informed." However, in the Tamil Version, the same has been improperly translated as "legal assistance" instead of "free legal aid." Thereby, it could have deprived the detenu of making effective representation to the authorities against the order of detention. 5.In this context, it is useful to refer to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu reported in (1999) 3/8
2 SCC 413. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had occasion to deal with similar situation where in the Grounds of Detention referred to an order remanding the detenu therein to judicial custody was in English language. Since the tamil version of the document was not supplied to the detenue therein, a specific issue was raised by the Hon'ble Supreme Court whether failure to supply tamil version of the remand order passed in English, a language not known to the detenu therein, would vitiate the detenu's further detention.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court, after discussing the safeguards embodied in Article 22[5] of the Constitution, observed that the detenu should be afforded an opportunity of making representation effectively against the Detention Order and that, the failure to supply every material in the language which can be understood by the detenu, is imperative. In the said context, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held in Paragraphs 9 and 16 as follows: "9.However, this Court has maintained a distinction between a document which has been relied upon by the detaining authority in the grounds of detention and a document which finds a mere reference in the grounds of detention.
prejudice is caused to him. This is because the non-supply of such a document would amount to denial of the right of being communicated the grounds and of being afforded the opportunity of making an effective representation against the order. But it would not be so where the document merely finds a reference in the order of detention or among the grounds thereof. In such a case, the detenu's complaint of non-supply of document has to be supported by prejudice caused to him in making an effective representation. What applies to a document would equally apply to furnishing a translated copy of the document in the language known to and understood by the detenu, should the document be in a different language. ......
16.For the above reasons, in our view, the non-supply of the Tamil version of the English document, on the facts and in the circumstances, renders her continued detention illegal. We, therefore, direct that the detenue be set free forthwith unless she is required to be detained in any other case. The appeal is accordingly allowed."
6.Thus, the detention order is vitiated on the ground of improper translation of the Remand Order and hence, the same is liable to be quashed. 5/8
7.Accordingly, the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 21.11.2023 in No.606/BCDFGISSSV/2023, is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., Karthick S/o.Pandu Reddy, aged about 29 years, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless he is required in connection with any other case. (M.S.R., J.) (S.M., J.) 26.03.2024 Internet : Yes Index : Yes / No dk 6/8
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 600 007.
3.The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Chennai.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison - II, Puzhal, Chennai -600 066.
5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
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M.S.RAMESH , J.
and SUNDER MOHAN, J.
dk 26.03.2024 8/8