Meenakchi v. The Secretary To The Government,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 16-09-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE J. NISHA BANU AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S. SOUNTHAR H.C.P No. 1005 of 2025

1. Meenakchi W/o.Murugan, No.61, Bajanai Koil Street, Karipalayam Village, Marakaam Taluk, Villupuram District.

Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Secretary to the Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The District Collector and District Magistrate of Villupuram District, Villupuram 3.The Superintendent of Police Villupuram District, Villupuram 4.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Cuddalore

5.The Inspector of Police Thiruvennainallur Police Station, Villupuram District.

Respondent(s) PRAYER The Habeas Corpus Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in connection with the order of Detention passed by the Second respondent dated 14/05/2025 in Rc.No.C2/22/2025 against the petitioner Son Mathan Kumar Male aged 28 yrs S/o.Murugan who is Confined at Central Prison Cuddalore and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenue before the Hon'ble Court and set him at liberty.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr. D.Balaji For Respondent(s):

Mr.A.Gokulakrishnan Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

J.NISHA BANU J.

and S.SOUNTHAR J.

The petitioner herein, who is the mother of the detenu viz., Mathankumar S/o.Murugan, aged about 28 years, confined at Central Prison, Cuddalore, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 14.05.2025 slapped on her son, branding him as "Goonda" 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 points have been raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is stated that the detention order is liable to be quashed on the ground that the Arrest Intimation Form was not fully translated to Tamil version. Hence, it is submitted that the detenu was deprived of making effective representation.

4. On a perusal of the Booklet, it is seen that Page No.18 of the booklet furnished to the detenu, i.e., Arrest Intimation Form, was not fully translated to Tamil version. Therefore, the detenue is deprived from making effective representation and that the Detention Order passed by the Detaining Authority is vitiated.

5. In this context, it is useful to refer to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in '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. Hence, for the aforesaid reasons, the detention order passed by the second respondent on 14.05.2025 in Rc.No.C2/22/2025 is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., Mathankumar S/o.Murugan, aged about 28 years, confined at Central Prison, Cuddalore, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his confinement is required in connection with any other case.

(J.NISHA BANU J.) (S.SOUNTHAR J.) 16-09-2025 ASI To 1.The Secretary to the Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The District Collector and District Magistrate of Villupuram District, Villupuram

3.The Superintendent of Police Villupuram District, Villupuram 4.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Cuddalore 5.The Inspector of Police Thiruvennainallur Police Station, Villupuram District.

6. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

J. NISHA BANU, J.

AND S. SOUNTHAR, J.

ASI H.C.P No. 1005 of 2025 16-09-2025