R.Udhayakumari v. The Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 01.08.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S. RAMESH AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN H.C.P.No.1458 of 2024 R.Udhayakumari ... Petitioner Vs.
1.State of Tamilnadu Rep. by The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai City.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.
4.The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Chennai.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records relating to the order
of detention passed by the 2nd respondent in C.M.P.No.394/BCDFGISSSV/2024 dated 22-04-2024 under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 against the petitioner Udhayakumari's son the detenu Praveen Kumar, Aged 25 years, Son of Rajendran by designating him as Drug Offender, now confined in Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Hon'ble Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.P.Vishnu For Respondents : Mr.A.Gokulakrishnan, Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
M.S.RAMESH, J.
AND SUNDER MOHAN , J.
The petitioner herein, who is the mother of the detenu namely Praveenkumar, aged about 25 years, S/o.Rajendran has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 22.04.2024 slapped on her son, branding him as "Drug Offender" under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber Law Offenders, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Sexual Offenders,
Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 [Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982].
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, as well as the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents.
3. Though several grounds have been raised in this Habeas Corpus Petition, the learned counsel for the petitioner stated that the detention order is liable to be quashed on the ground that the detenu was furnished with improper translated copy of the First Information Report. Hence, it is submitted that the detenu was deprived of making effective representation.
4. On a perusal of the Booklet, it is seen that the entries made in the First Information Report in English language has not been translated in the vernacular language. This furnishing of improper translated copy of the vital document would deprive the detenu of making effective representation to the authorities against the order of detention.
5. In this context, it is useful to refer to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of 'Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu' reported in '(1999) 2 SCC 413'. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, after discussing the safeguards embodied in Article 22[5] of the Constitution, observed that the detenu should be afforded an opportunity of making representation effectively against the Detention Order and that, the failure to supply every material in the language which can be understood by the detenu, is imperative. In the said context, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held in Paragraphs 9 and 16 {as in SCC journal} as follows:
"9. However, this Court has maintained a distinction between a document which has been relied upon by the detaining authority in the grounds of detention and a document which finds a mere reference in the grounds of detention. Whereas the non-supply of a copy of the document relied upon in the grounds of detention has been held to be fatal to continued detention, the detenu need not show that any prejudice is caused to him. This is because the non-supply of such a document would amount to denial of the right of being communicated the grounds and of being afforded the opportunity of making an effective representation against the order. But it would not be so where the document merely finds
a reference in the order of detention or among the grounds thereof. In such a case, the detenu's complaint of non-supply of document has to be supported by prejudice caused to him in making an effective representation. What applies to a document would equally apply to furnishing a translated copy of the document in the language known to and understood by the detenu, should the document be in a different language. .....
16. For the above reasons, in our view, the non-supply of the Tamil version of the English document, on the facts and in the circumstances, renders her continued detention illegal. We, therefore, direct that the detenue be set free forthwith unless she is required to be detained in any other case. The appeal is accordingly allowed."
6. In view of the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and in view of the aforesaid facts, this Court is of the view that the detention order is liable to be quashed.
7. Accordingly, the detention order passed by the second respondent on 22.04.2024 in No.394/BCDFGISSSV/2024, is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu namely Praveenkumar, aged about 25 years, S/o.Rajendran, is directed to be set
at liberty forthwith, unless his confinement is required in connection with any other case.
[M.S.R., J] [S.M., J] 01.08.2024 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet: Yes/No Tsg To 1.State of Tamilnadu Rep. by The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai City.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.
4.The Inspector of Police, V-1, Villivakkam Police Station, Chennai.
5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
M.S.RAMESH, J.
and SUNDER MOHAN , J.
Tsg H.C.P.No.1458 of 2024 01.08.2024