Annamalai v. The State Rep.By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 09.08.2021 Coram The Honourable Mr. Justice P.N.PRAKASH and The Honourable Ms. Justice R.N.MANJULA H.C.P.No.435 of 2021 Annamalai .. Petitioner Vs.
1.State represented by The Secretary to the Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Home, Prohibition and Excise IX, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector-cum-District Magistrate, The District Collectorate, Kallakurichi & District.
3.The Superintendent of Police, The Superintendent of Police Office, Kallakurichi District.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Women Prison, Vellore.
5.The Inspector of Police, Sankarapuram Police Station, Kallakurichi District.
.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records of the 2nd respondent by its D.O.No.C2/07/2021 dated 30.01.2021 setting aside the order of detention passed therein and directing the respondent to produce the detenue viz., Alamelu, aged about 42 years, wife of Annamalai, before this Court, now detained in Central Prison for Women, Vellore and set her at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.V.Gunasekar For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, Govt.Advocate (Crl.Side)
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by P.N.PRAKASH, J.] The petitioner is the husband of the detenue Alamelu, aged about 42 years, wife of Annamalai. The detenue has been detained by the second respondent by his order in D.O.No.C2/07/2021 dated 30.01.2021, 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 appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 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 on time and there was an inordinate and unexplained delay.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 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 Government Advocate (Crl.Side), no prejudice has been caused to the detenue 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 30.01.2021. The petitioner made a representation on 04.02.2021. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 08.02.2021. The remarks were duly received on 10.03.2021. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 15.04.2021.
6. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 30 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining
Authority, of which, 8 days were Government Holidays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 22 days in submitting the remarks. It is the further contention of the petitioner that the remarks were received on 10.03.2021 and there was a delay of 33 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department after the Deputy Secretary dealt with it, of which, 11 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was an inordinate delay of 22 days in considering the representation.
7. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu (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 detenue.
8. In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government (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 detenue 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 22 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and unexplained delay of 22 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in D.O.No.C2/07/2021 dated 30.01.2021, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenue, viz., Alamelu, aged about 42 years, wife of Annamalai, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VI) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar nsd
To 1.The Secretary to the Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Home, Prohibition and Excise IX, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector-cum-District Magistrate, The District Collectorate, Kallakurichi & District.
3.The Superintendent of Police, The Superintendent of Police Office, Kallakurichi District.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Special Prison for Women Vellore.
5.The Inspector of Police, Sankarapuram Police Station, Kallakurichi District.
6.The Joint Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Public, Law and Order Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.
7.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
H.C.P.No.435 of 2021 SR II (CO) B.VC (16.08.2021)