Jayalakshmi, 31 Years v. State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 25.01.2018
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.T.SELVAM and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR H.C.P.No.2414 of 2017 Jayalakshmi ... Petitioner -Vs1. State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by the Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Commissioner of Police, The Commissioner Office, Vepery, Chennai-600 007.
... 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 order of detention No.468/BCDFGISSSV/2017 dated, 01/08/2017 passed by the 2nd respondent and to quash the same and also to direct the detenu Thiru.Sanjai, S/O.Mani, who is presently detained in the Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai to be produced before this Hon'ble court and set at liberty. For Petitioner :
Mr.T.V.Somasundaram For Respondents:
Mr.V.M.R.Rajentran Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by C.T.SELVAM, J.] The petitioner, who is the wife of the detenu, namely, Sanjai, son of Mani, age 35 years, challenges the impugned order of detention, dated 01.08.2017 in No.468/BCDFGISSSV/2017 detaining her husband as "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of dangerous activities of Boot leggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14/1982).
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, confines his argument only in respect of nonapplication of mind on the part of the detaining authority in passing the order of detention.
4. A perusal of the Grounds of Detention would reveal that 3 adverse cases have been registered against the detenu and a ground case was registered against him in Cr.No.1243/2017 for the offences u/s.341, 294(b), 336, 427, 397 and 506(ii) IPC. Though bail application of the petitioner in the similar case was dismissed on 21.07.2017, he has not moved any bail application in the two adverse cases.
Therefore, the probability of release of the petitioner imminently does not arise. Bails are normally granted based on the facts and circumstances of each case. The similarity theory cannot be taken as a yardstick while passing the Detention Order. All these facts clearly indicate the non-application of mind by the Detaining Authority. Hence, we are inclined to set aside the detention order.
5. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.468/BCDFGISSSV/2017 dated 01.08.2017, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Sanjai, son of Mani, aged about 35 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.
Sd/- Asst.Registrar (CS II ) /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar kmi To
1. The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Commissioner of Police, The Commissioner Office, Vepery, Chennai-600 007.
3.The Superintendent to Govt, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.(In duplicate for communication to detenue) 4.The Joint Secretary to Govt, Public(Law & Order) Fort Saint George,Chennai-9 5.The Public Prosecutor High Court, Madras.
H.C.P.No.2414 of 2017 br(co) nr 26/02/2018