Neelavathi v. The State Of Tamilnadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 30.09.2020 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN Neelavathi ... Petitioner Vs 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

... 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 in C3/D.O/24/2020 dated 28.02.2020 on the file of the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's son Thiru.Elangovan, S/o.Annadurai, aged about 33 years, now the detenu detained in Central Prison, Cuddalore, before this Court and set him at liberty.

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For Petitioner : Mr.K.Gandhi Kumar For Respondents : Mr.R.Prathap Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

(Order of the court was made by N.KIRUBAKARAN.J.,) The matter was heard through "Video Conferencing". 2.The Petitioner who is the mother of the detenu has challenged the detention order passed against the detenu in C3/D.O/24/2020 dated 28.02.2020 by the Second Respondent under Section 2 (e) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 terming him as 'DRUG OFFENDER' as he has got one adverse case registered against him apart from the ground case.

3.Heard Mr.K.Gandhi Kumar, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner and Mr.R.Prathap Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the Respondents.

4. It is seen from the records that the representation sent on behalf of the 2/6

detenu has not been considered within time frame and there is a delay of 54 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).

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 C3/D.O/24/2020 dated 28.02.2020 is quashed. The detenu, viz., Elangovan, S/o.Annadurai, aged 33 years, now confined in Central Prison, Cuddalore is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

9. On technical grounds only, the detention order has been quashed by this Court. The very purpose of detention is to prevent the detenu from repeating offences and that public safety is ensured. Since this Court has quashed the 4/6

detention order, in the interest of public and in the interest of justice, this Court is justified in directing the detenu to appear before the jurisdictional Police Station, every Monday at 11.00 A.M., till 27.02.2021. The very purpose of this direction is to ensure that the detenu does not repeat the commission of offence and that the police can also have a watch over the movement of the detenu, even if he is outside the prison. Accordingly, this petition is allowed. (N.K.K.,J.) (P.V.,J.) 30.09.2020 mbi Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No To 1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Cuddalore.

N.KIRUBAKARAN, J.

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P.VELMURUGAN, J.

mbi 3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Cuddalore.

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

5.The Joint Secretary Public (Law and Order) Department Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai - 600 009.

Dated:30.09.2020 6/6