Shanthi, Aged 26 Years, v. The Secretary To Govt.,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.08.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.T.SELVAM and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.No.742 of 2018 Shanthi .. Petitioner/Wife of the Detenu Vs.

1.The Secretary to Government Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, (Department of Internal Security) North Block, New Delhi-110 001.

2.The Additional Secretary to Government (Home), Government of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Gubert Avenue, Puducherry-605 001.

3.The District Magistrate-cum-Authorized Officer, Govt of Puducherry, Office of the District Magistrate, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry-605 009.

.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records relating to the order of detention NO.01/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2018 dated, 17/03/2018 passed by the 3rd respondent and to quash the same and also to direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's husband Ilavarasan, S/O.Vijayarangam, who is presently detained in the Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry to be produced before this Hon`ble court and set at liberty.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Gandhi Kumar For Respondents : Mr.K.B.Arul, ACGSC for R1 Mr.D.Bharathachakravarthy Public Prosecutor (Pondicherry) for RR2 & 3.

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by C.T.SELVAM, J.] Challenge is made to the order of detention passed by the second respondent vide Proceedings in No.01/DM/RO/D1/PPASAA/2018 dated 17.03.2018, whereby the detenu, by name, Ilavarasan, son of Vijayarangam, aged about 29 years, was ordered to be detained under Sub Section (2) of Section 3 of the Puducherry Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2008 (Act No.10 of 2010) branding him as a "DANGEROUS PERSON".

2. The detenu has come to adverse notice in the following cases.

Sl.No.

Crime No. & Police Station Section of Law 1.

Cr.No.94/2010 Mettupalayam Police Station 147, 148, 307, 326, 302 r/w 149 IPC 2.

Cr.No.25/2014 Mettupalayam Police Station 341, 365, 323, 326, 342, 506(ii) r/w 34 IPC 3.

Cr.No.140/2014 Thindivanam Police Station 399 IPC 4.

Cr.No.9/2010 Mettupalayam Police Station 324, 323, 506(ii) r/w 34 IPC 5.

Cr.No.64/2014 Mettupalayam Police Station 25(i-a) of Arms Act 1959 r/w 34 IPC 6.

Cr.No.27/2014 Mettupalayam Police Station 188 IPC The ground case has been registered against the detenu in Cr.No.39/2017 on the file of Inspector of Police, Hudco Police Station for offences u/s 147, 148, 341, 302 r/w 149 IPC. The detention order has been passed by Second respondent in No.01/DM/RO/D1/PPASAA/2018.

3. Though many grounds have been raised in the petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, confines his argument only in respect of non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority in passing the order of detention.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the detenu was surrendered in the ground case in Cr.No.39/2017 on 07.05.2017; whereas the detention order was passed on 17.03.2018, i.e. Nearly after a lapse of 10 months. This inordinate delay in passing of detention order would vitiate the same. In support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner placed reliance on the judgment of a Division Bench of this Court reported in 2005 MLJ (Crl.) 752 (Ramesh v. District Collector and District Magistrate, Tiruchirapalli District and another).

5. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the order of detention has been passed on cogent and sufficient materials and the same cannot be interfered with at the instance of the petitioner. Therefore, he submits that the Habeas Corpus Petition does not merit any consideration and the same is liable to be dismissed.

6. We have heard the learned counsel for both sides with regard to the facts.

7. A perusal of the grounds of detention as well as the detention order passed by the detaining authority would show that the Detention Order was passed on 17.03.2018. Further, the detenu was surrendered in the ground case as early as on 07.05.2017. This shows an inordinate delay of nearly 10 months in passing the detention order. There is no explanation forthcoming on the side of the respondents for this inordinate delay in passing the detention order. Learned counsel for the petitioner has rightly placed reliance on the decision in Ramesh's case (cited supra) wherein this Court has held as follows:

"....

3.It is brought to our notice by the learned Government advocate that the analyst report was received on 06.12.2014 and the doctor has issued certificate on 07.12.2014. Even in the counter affidavit filed by the first respondent, it is stated that the sponsoring authority has submitted his affidavit only on 15.01.2015. When the sponsoring authority is in possession of the analyst report and the doctor's report even on 06.12.2014 and 07.12.2014, there is no proper explanation for submitting his affidavit till 15.01.2015 for invoking the provisions of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. Even thereafter, the impugned detention order was passed only on 27.02.2015, i.e. After five weeks of receipt of the affidavit from the sponsoring authority. Though the detaining authority has filed a counter affidavit,

there is no explanation for the undue delay in passing the impugned order.

4.In this regard, learned counsel for the petitioner relied on unreported decision of this Court rendered in H.C.P. No.1149 of 1995, dated 13.12.1995. In similar circumstances, after pointing out the unexplained delay between the date of submission of the affidavit by the sponsoring authority and the detention order, the Division Bench of this Court has concluded thus:

"Such delays tend to have an affect of snapping the link between prejudicial activity and passing of preventive orders......."

8. In view of the above decision rendered by the Division Bench of this Court, this Court is of the view that the detention order is unsustainable in law on the ground of inordinate and unexplained delay in passing the detention order and the same is liable to be set aside.

9. Accordingly, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and 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(CCC) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar kmi To:

1.The Secretary to Government Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, (Department of Internal Security) North Block, New Delhi-110 001.

2.The Additional Secretary to Government (Home), Government of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Gubert Avenue, Puducherry-605 001.

3.The District Magistrate-cum-Authorized Officer, Govt of Puducherry, Office of the District Magistrate, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry-605 009.

4.The Public Prosecutor (Pondicherry) High Court, Madras.

5.The Superintendent Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.

+1cc to Mr.K.B.ARUL, Additional Central Government Standing Counsel , S.R.No. 58217 +1cc to The Government Pleader cum Public Prosecutor for Pondicherry, S.R.No. 59849 H.C.P.No.742 of 2018 NRI(CO) CSL/17.10.2018