Sasikumar, M/A 49 Yrs, v. The Secretary To The Govt
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 14.08.2018
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.T.SELVAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.No.646 of 2018 Sasi Kumar ... Petitioner -Vs1.The Secretary to the Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Dept., Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. District Collector & District Magistrate, Thiruvanamalai District, Thiruvanamalai.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records in connection with the order of Detention passed by the second respondent 22.02.2018 in D.O.No.09/2018-C2 against the petitioner son Ramu, male aged 22 years S/o. Sasikumar, who is confined at Central Prison Vellore, and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before the Hon'ble Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner :
Mr.D.Balaji For Respondents:
Mr.R.Prathap Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by C.T.SELVAM, J.] The petitioner is the father of the detenu herein, viz., Ramu, son of Sasikumar, aged 22 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in D.O. No.09/2018, dated 22.02.2018, holding him to be a "GOONDA", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber Law Offenders, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Sexual Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video
Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982). The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.
2. The detenu has come to adverse notice in the following cases:- S.No.
Cr.No. & Police Station Offences 1.
Cr.No.356 of 2017 Arni Town Police Station 379 IPC 2.
Cr.No.24 of 2018 Arni Taluk Police Station 457,380 IPC 3.
Cr.No.25 of 2018 Arni Taluk Police Station 457,380 IPC The ground case has been registered against the detenu in Cr.No.28/2018 of 2018 on the file of Inspector of Police, Arni Town Police Station for offences u/s 341, 294(b), 427, 336, 506 (ii) r/w 392,397 IPC The detention order has been passed by second respondent in D.O. No.09/2018.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.
4. 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.
5. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor 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 Additional Public Prosecutor, no prejudice has been caused to the detenu and thus, there is no violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India.
6. The Detention Order in question was passed on 22.02.2018. The petitioner made a representation, dated 20.03.2018 and the same was received on 21.03.2018. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on the same day. The remarks were duly received on 02.04.2018. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 09.04.2018.
7. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was an inordinate delay of 12 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which 6 days were Saturdays and Sundays and Government holidays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 6 days in submitting remarks. Thereafter, there was yet another delay of 6 days, in considering the representation, of which 2 days were Saturdays and Sundays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 4 days in considering the representation.
8. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu, reported in 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 detenu.
9. In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government, reported in 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 detenu would be sufficient to set aside the order of detention.
10. 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.
11. In the subject case, admittedly, there is an inordinate and unexplained delay of 6 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and 4 days in considering the representation. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed.
12. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in D.O. No.09/2018, dated 22.02.2018 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Ramu, son of Sasikumar, aged 22 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS IV) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar
bkn/kmi To:
1.The Secretary to the Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Dept., Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. District Collector & District Magistrate, Thiruvanamalai District, Thiruvanamalai.
3. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Vellore.
4.The Joint Secretary, Public (Law and order) Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
H.C.P.No.646 of 2018 rsi(co) nr 25/09/2018