Venkatesan @ Pichumani v. The Secretary To The

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 10.04.2017

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.NAGAMUTHU and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH H.C.P No.1924 of 2016 Venkatesan @ Pichumani

...Petitioner

Vs

1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep., by its Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009 2.The District Collector & District Magistrate (Full Additional Charge), Thiruvannamalai District, Tiruvannamalai.

....Respondents Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ, order or Direction in the nature of a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in connection with the order of detention passed by the second respondent dated 25.08.2016 in D.O.No.35/2016-C2 against the petitioner/detenu Venkatesan @ Pichumani, male, aged 31, S/o Madurai Muthu, who is confined at Central Prison, Vellore and to set aside the same and consequently direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.D.Balaji For respondents : Mr.V.M.R. Rajentren Addl. Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S. NAGAMUTHU,J.,) The petitioner/ detenu Venkatesan @ Pichumani, has come up with this habeas corpus petition, challenging the detention order passed against Venkatesan @ Pichumani, by the second respondent, vide proceedings D.O.No.35/2016-C2 dated 25.08.2016.

2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State and we have also perused the records carefully.

3. Though, several grounds were raised in the petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would mainly focus on the ground case in which bail application was filed in Crime No.589/2016 at the Sessions Court, Tiruvannamalai in Cr.M.P.No.3276/2016 which was dismissed and the detaining authority has stated that the relatives of the detenu were taking steps to file bail application in the above case, in which case there was real possibility of the detenu coming out on bail. The learned counsel pointed out that to arrive at such a conclusion, there was no material placed before the detaining authority at all.

4. The learned Additional Public prosecutor would submit that in the Special report submitted by the Inspector of Police, there is a statement to the effect that the relatives of the detenu were taking steps to file bail application seeking bail in connection with the case in Crime No.589 of 2016 .

5. We have considered the above submissions. Admittedly, as on the date of passing of the detention order, bail application was filed in Crime No.589/2016 at the Sessions Court, Tiruvannamalai in Cr.M.P.No.3276/2016 on the file of Arni Town Police Station. Though it is alleged that his relatives were taking steps to file an application for bail, there were no materials available before the detaining authority, except the report of the Inspector of Police. Even the report of the Inspector of Police does not spell out as to how he came to know that the relatives were taking steps to file application seeking bail. Full details as to who are those relatives, who were taking steps to file bail application also have not been mentioned. Thus, in our considered view, without making proper application of mind relating to these facts, the detaining authority has passed the detention order. Therefore, we are inclined to set aside the same.

6.Accordingly, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the impugned detention order, dated 25.08.2016, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu is directed to be released forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar

sts To

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

2. The District Collector & District Magistrate Thiruvannamalai District, Tiruvannamalai.

3.The Superintendant, Central Prison, Vellore.

4.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public(Law and Order), Fort Saint George, Chennai-9.

5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai. H.C.P.No.1924 of 2016 SSI(CO) GN(24/04/2017)