Selvi v. State Rep By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08.06.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.VAIDYANATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA H.C.P.NO.1540 OF 2021 Selvi ... Petitioner Vs

1. State of Tamil Nadu Rep. By its Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2. The District Collector and District Magistrate of Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

4. The Inspector of Police, Neyveli Thermal Police Station, Neyveli, Cuddalore District.

5. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore.

... Respondents 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 petitioner's husband detention under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 vide detention order, dated 20.08.2021 on the file of the second respondent herein made in proceedings C3/D.O./30/2021 and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents herein to produce the said petitioner's husband viz., Veeramani, son of Ramasamy, aged 43 years, before this Court and set the petitioner's husband at liberty from detention, now petitioner's husband detained at Central Prison, Cuddalore.

For Petitioner : Mr.C.C.Chellappan For Respondents : Mr.E.Raj Thilak Addl. Public Prosecutor

ORDER

S.VAIDYANATHAN, J.

and A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

The petitioner is the wife of the detenu Veeramani, aged about 43 years, S/o.Ramasamy. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in C3/D.O./30/2021 dated 20.08.2021, 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. 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 Additional Public Prosecutor strongly opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition by filing his counter. He 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 learned Additional Public Prosecutor, 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 20.08.2021. The petitioner made a representation dated 16.09.2021. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 21.09.2021. The remarks were duly received on 06.10.2021. Thereafter, the Government considered

the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 28.10.2021.

6. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 14 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which, 4 days were Government Holidays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 11 days in submitting the remarks. It is the further contention of the petitioner that the remarks were received on 06.10.2021 and there was a delay of 6 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Home, Prohibition and Excise Department after the Deputy Secretary dealt with it, of which, there were Government Holiday for 2 days, hence, there was an inordinate delay of 4 days in considering the representation.

7. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu (2011 (5) SCC 244), the Honourable 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 Honourable 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 11 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and unexplained delay of 4 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Home, Prohibition and Excise Department. 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 C3/D.O./30/2021 dated 20.08.2021, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Veeramani, aged about 43 years, S/o.Ramasamy, is directed to be

released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CO) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar nsd To

1. The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2. The District Collector and District Magistrate of Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

3. The Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

4. The Inspector of Police, Neyveli Thermal Police Station, Neyveli, Cuddalore District.

5. The Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore.

6. The Joint Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Public, Law and Order Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.

7. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.1540 of 2021 BP(CO) RLP(15/06/2022)