Thiru.Ramachandran v. The Secretary To Government

In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated: 06.03.2015 Coram:

The Hon'ble Mr.Justice M.Jaichandren and The Hon'ble Mrs.Justice Aruna Jagadeesan H.C.P. No.2443 of 2014 Ramachandran ..

Petitioner vs.

1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Dept.

Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

2.The Commissioner of Police, City Police, O/o.the Commissioner of Police, Chennai-600 008.

..

Respondents Prayer: Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the relief as stated therein. Writ of Habeas Corpus directing the respondents to produce the body of the detenu R.Jayaseelan S/o.Ramachandran, aged 25 years residint of No.32 Renugambal Kovil First Street B.V.Colony, Vysarbadi, Chennai 600 039 now detained in the Central Prison, in puruance to the detention order No.BDFGISSV 935/2014 dated 12.8.2014 passed by the Second Respondent commissioner of Police, Chennai and set the detenue at liberty.

For petitioner :

Mr.K.Devaraj For respondents :

Mr.C.Emalias, APP

O R D E R

This Habeas Corpus Petition is filed by the father of the detenu, namely, Jayaseelan, son of Ramachandran, aged about 32 years, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records, in Memo No.935/BDFGISSV/2014, dated 12.8.2014, passed by the 2nd respondent, detaining the detenu, under Section 3(1) of 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 14/1982) the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982, branding him as a "Goonda", in the Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, and to quash the same and to direct the respondents to produce the body of the detenu and set him at liberty forthwith.

2. Though several grounds have been raised in this Habeas Corpus Petition, the learned counsel for the petitioner has assailed the impugned detention order only on the ground of nonsupply of copy of the bail applications filed in similar cases, referred to in the grounds of detention, for arriving at the subjective satisfaction that there is likelihood of the detenu coming out on bail, which has affected the constitutional right of making an effective and purposeful representation to the authorities concerned, thereby vitiating the detention.

3. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the impugned detention order has been passed on cogent and sufficient materials and there is no illegality or infirmity in the impugned order of detention. However, he submitted that the copy of the bail applications were not supplied to the detenu.

4. We have given our careful and anxious consideration to the rival submissions put forward by the learned counsel on either side and thoroughly scanned through the impugned detention order and the entire materials available on record.

5. It is seen from paragraph 4 of the Grounds of Detention that in similar cases, the accused were released on bail in Crl.M.P.No.1668/2013 on the file of the learned Principal and District Sessions Judge, Thiruvallur, in Cr.No.1143/2013, under Sections 448, 307, 506[ii] IPC; in Crl.O.P.No.22181/2010 on the file of the High Court Madras, in Cr.No.65/2010, u/s.364, 384, 506 [ii] IPC @ 341, 367, 384, 506[ii] IPC; and in Crl.M.P.No.2836/2013, on the file of the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thiruvallur, in Cr.No.1291/2013, u/s.341, 336, 427, 392, r/w.397, 506[ii] IPC. On a perusal of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution, it is seen that it does not contain the copy of the said bail applications filed in similar cases.

The said bail applications filed in similar cases was a document relied upon by the Detaining Authority to come to a subjective satisfaction that the detenu was likely to be released on bail. Admittedly, such a document has not been supplied to the detenu, as they did not form part of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution. Therefore, non supply of the copy of the bail applications in similar cases to the detenu would vitiate the impugned detention order.

6. The Honourable Supreme Court in M.Ahamed Kutty Vs. Union of India and another (1990-2-SCC-1) has observed thus:-

"7. Considering the facts in the instant case, the bail application and the bail order were vital materials for consideration. If those were not considered the satisfaction of the detaining authority itself would have been impaired and if those had been considered, they would be documents relied on by the detaining authority though not specifically mentioned in the annexure to the order of detention and those ought to have formed part of the documents supplied to the detenu with the grounds of detention and without them the grounds themselves could not be said to have been complete. We have, therefore, no alternative but to hold that it amounted to denial of the detenu's right to make an effective representation and that it resulted in violation of Article 22(5) of the Constitution of India rendering the continued detention of the detenu illegal and entitling the detenu to be set at liberty in this case." (Emphasis added)."

7. This court in Jarinabegam Vs. State of Tamil Nadu by Secretary to Government, Prohibition and Exercise Department, Chennai and another (2007-1-MLJ-Crl-18) relying upon the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court cited supra has held that non supply of a copy of the bail application to the detenu has the effect of vitiating the order or detention.

8. As already analysed by us, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, non-supply of the copy of the bail applications filed in similar cases to the detenu has the effect of vitiating the impugned detention order. Further, due to non supply of such a vital document, the detenu has lost valuable right to make an effective representation to the authorities concerned.

9. In the light of the above said principles laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court and for the reasons stated above, the impugned order of detention is vitiated and the same is liable to be quashed.

10. In the result, this Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The impugned detention order is set aside. The detenu is directed to be released forthwith, unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar

gs.

To:

1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Dept., Fort St.George Chennai-9.

2.The Commissioner of Police, City Police, O/o.the Commissioner of Police, Chennai-600 008.

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai 4.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public(Law & Order) Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

5.The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Madras. HCP.No.2443 of 2014 kk(co) pmk.31.3.2015