S.Rajendran v. The Principal Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 28.08.2019

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M.SUNDRESH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P. No. 1172 of 2019 S.Rajendran ..Petitioner/ Father of the Detenue -Vs1.State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Prohibition and Excise, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009 2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 07.

3.The State Rep. by The Inspector of Police, J-3 Guindy Police Station, Guindy, Chennai.

..Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in Memo No.232/BCDFGISSSV/2019 dated 08.05.2019 on the file of the second respondent and quash the detention order as illegal and direct the respondents to produce the detenu Ramesh @ Appunu, son of Rajendran, aged about 33 years, detenu now confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and set him at liberty.

For Petitioner : Mr.G.Pavendhan For Respondents : Ms.V.Saradha Devi Government Advocate(Crl.Side)

ORDER

[Order of the Court was made by M.M.SUNDRESH, J.] The petitioner is the father of the detenu, Ramesh @ Appunu, son of Rajendran, aged about 33 years. The detenu has been

detained by the second respondent by his order in Memo No.232/BCDFGISSSV/2019 dated 08.05.2019 holding 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 Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

3.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.

4.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition. She 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 Government Advocate (Crl.Side), 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.

5. The Detention Order in question was passed on 08.05.2019. The petitioner made a representation dated 25.05.2019. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 29.05.2019. The remarks were duly received on 06.06.2019. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 05.07.2019.

6. It is the contention of the petitioner that the remarks were received on 06.06.2019 and there was a delay of 8 days in submitting the remarks of which 3 days were Government Holidays. It is the further contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that there was a delay of 29 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department after the Deputy Secretary dealt with it, of which 8 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was inordinate delay of 21 days in considering the representation. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 05.07.2019.

7. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu (2011 (5) SCC 244), the Hon'ble 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.

8. In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government (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.

9. In Tara Chand vs. State of Rajasthan and others, reported in 1980 (2) SCC 321, the Hon'ble 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.

10. In the subject case, admittedly, there is an inordinate and unexplained delay of 5 days in submitting the remarks and 21 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed.

11. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in Memo No.232/BCDFGISSSV/2019 dated 08.05.2019, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, Ramesh @ Appunu, son of Rajendran, aged about 33 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

mmi/ssm Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar To 1.The Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Prohibition and Excise, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009 2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai - 07.

3.The Inspector of Police, J-3 Guindy Police Station, Guindy, Chennai.

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

5. The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law & Order), Fort St.George, Chennai -600 009.

6. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P. No. 1172 of 2019 Kak(30/09/2019)