Latha v. State Rep By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 21.01.2022 Coram THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE R.HEMALATHA H.C.P.No.1122 of 2021 Latha W/o.Selvapandian .. Petitioner Vs.
1.The Chief Secretary to Government of Puducherry, Union of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry.
2.The Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Rajnivas, Puducherry.
3.The District Magistrate-cum-Authorised Officer, Office of the District Magistrate, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry - 605 009.
4.The Superintendent of Police (South), Puducherry.
5.The Chief Superintendent of Jail, Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.
6.The Station House Officer, Mudaliarpet Police Station, Puducherry.
.. Respondents Habeas Corpus 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 detention order in No.16/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2021 dated 22.06.2021 passed by the third respondent under the Puducherry Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2008 (Act 10 of 2010) and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's son Kalvi @
Kalvi Selvam s/o.Selvapandian, aged about 28 years, who is now confined at Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry, before this Court and set the detenu at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.D.Gopi Krishnan Mr. C. Anbu for For Respondents: Mr.V.Balamurugane Additional Public Prosecutor (Puducherry)
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by P.N.PRAKASH, J] The petitioner is the mother of the detenu viz., Kalvi @ Kalvi Selvam s/o.Selvapandian, aged about 28 years. The detenu has been detained by the third respondent by his order in No.16/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2021 dated 22.06.2021, holding him to be a "Dangerous Person", as contemplated under Section (1) of Section 3 of the Puducherry Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2008 (Act No.10 of 2010). 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 (Puducherry) appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.
3. Though many grounds have been raised in the petition, 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. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, no materials were placed before the detaining authority as to whether the detenu was in remand or otherwise at the time of clamping the detention order and the subjective satisfaction arrived at by the detaining authority is not proper. Therefore, the impugned order of detention is vitiated in law.
4. A perusal of the booklet would go to show that no materials were placed before the detaining authority as to whether the detenu was in remand or otherwise at the time of clamping the detention order, which shows non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority in passing the order of detention. The impugned detention order is therefore liable to be quashed.
In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.16/DM/RO/D2/PPASAA/2021 dated 22.06.2021 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The
detenu, viz., Kalvi @ Kalvi Selvam s/o.Selvapandian, aged about 28 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS II) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar gm To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government of Puducherry, Union of Puducherry, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry.
2.The Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Rajnivas, Puducherry.
3.The District Magistrate-cum-Authorised Officer, Office of the District Magistrate, 1st Floor, Vazhadhavoor Road, Kavundanpalayam, Puducherry - 605 009.
4.The Superintendent of Police (South), Puducherry.
5.The Chief Superintendent of Jail, Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.
6.The Station House Officer, Mudaliarpet Police Station, Puducherry.
7.The Public Prosecutor, Puducherry.
H.C.P.No.1122 of 2021 SRA(CO) CT/25/01/2022