Manikandan v. The Secretary To The Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23.02.2021 Coram The Hon'ble Mr. Justice P.N.PRAKASH and The Hon'ble Mr. Justice V.SIVAGNANAM H.C.P. No. 1255 of 2020 Manikandan ... Petitioner/Brother of the Detenue Vs 1.The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.

2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 7.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.

4.The Inspector of Police, V6 Kolathur Police Station, Chennai - 99.

... Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus directing the respondents to produce the body of the detenu Sureshkumar @ Raji @ Ooka Raji, male, aged 29, S/o.Gothandam, who is detained in Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, before this Court and pass an order to call for the records of detention passed by the second respondent dated 06.07.2020 in Memo No.245/BCDFGISSSV/2020 against the petitioner's brother Sureshkumar @ Raji @ Ooka Raji, male, aged 29, S/o.Gothandam and set aside the same and set the detenu at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.Xavier Felix for M/s.R.Rafi Babu For Respondents:

Mr.R.Prathap Kumar, Addl.Public Prosecutor

ORDER

[Order of the Court was made by V.SIVAGNANAM, J.] The petitioner is the brother of the detenu - Sureshkumar @ Raji @ Ooka Raji, aged 29 years, S/o.Gothandam. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Memo No.245/BCDFGISSSV/2020 dated 06.07.2020, holding him to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.

2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents and we have also perused the records carefully. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor filed counter affidavit and vehemently opposed the petition. 3.Though the learned counsel for the petitioner has raised several other grounds to assail the order of detention, he has mainly focused his argument on the ground that the arrest report has not been properly translated in vernacular language. This deprived the detenu from making effective representation. Therefore, on this sole ground, the detention order is liable to be quashed.

4.On consideration of the submissions made on either side and upon perusal of the documents available on record especially Page Nos.80 & 81 of the booklet, it is clear that the arrest report has not been properly translated in vernacular language. Thus the impugned detention order is liable to be set aside on this ground.

5. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in Memo No.245/BCDFGISSSV/2020 dated 06.07.2020, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Sureshkumar @ Raji @ Ooka Raji, aged 29 years, S/o.Gothandam, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar

mmi To 1.The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.

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

3.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 7.

4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.

5.The Inspector of Police, V6 Kolathur Police Station, Chennai - 99.

6.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P. No. 1255 of 2020 pvs[co] srg 09/03/2021