G.Lakshmi v. The Government Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17.06.2015 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE S.TAMILVANAN and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.T.SELVAM H.C.P.No.3733 of 2014 G.Lakshmi

...Petitioner

Vs

1. The Government of Tamil Nadu rep. By its Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.

2. The Magistrate and District Collector, Collectorate, Salem District.

3. The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Salem.

...Respondents

Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the entire records relating to the detention order passed by the second respondent in C.M.P.No.20/GOONDA/C2/2014 dated 09.11.2014 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to produce the detenu G.Moorthi, S/o.Govindan, aged about 39 years before this Court, now he is detained in Central Prison, Salem and to release and set him at liberty forthwith. For Petitioner :

Mr.P.Vijendran For Respondents :

Mr.M.Maharaja Addl. Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.Tamilvanan,J.) Challenge is made to the order of detention passed by the second respondent vide C.M.P.No.20/GOONDA/C2/2014, dated 09.11.2014, whereby the detenu/son of the petitioner herein, by name, Moorthi, Son of Govindan, male, aged about 39 years, was ordered to be detained under the provisions 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 of 1982) branding him as a "GOONDA".

2.Though many grounds have been raised in the petition, Mr.P.Vijendran, the learned counsel for the petitioner has assailed the impugned detention order only on the ground of non-supply of copy of the bail application in the similar case, 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, Mr.M.Maharaja, 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 bail application in the similar case, referred to in the grounds of detention was 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 No.4 of the grounds of detention that in a similar case, the accused was granted bail by this Court in Crl.O.P.No.25955/2012 in respect of Crime No.246/2012 for the offences under Sections 341, 392 r/w 397, 427, 506(ii) IPC on the file of Salem Town Police Station. On a perusal of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution, it is seen that it does not contain any of the document, viz., the bail application, in respect of the similar case. The said bail application filed in similar case was the 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 document has not been supplied to the detenu, as it did not form part of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution. Therefore, the non-supply of the copy of the bail application and other documents in similar case 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 applications 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 the copy of the bail application in similar case 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 document, viz., bail application, in similar case 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(CO) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar mmi To

1. The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.

2. The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law & Order) Fort St. George, Chennai - 9.

3. The District Collector and District Magistrate, Salem.

4. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Salem.

5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

1CC to Mr.P.Vijendran, Advocate, SR 29516 H.C.P.No.3733 of 2014 GGK [CO] PSI 16.07.2015