Ponniammal v. The Commissioner Of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 19.04.2017

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.NAGAMUTHU and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH H.C.P No.2159 of 2016 Ponniammal

...Petitioner

Vs 1.The Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Office-Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai-7.

2.The Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Prohibition & Excise Department,(Home) Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

....Respondents Prayer: 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 first respondent dated 20.08.2016 in No.931/BCDFGISSSV/2016 against the detenu Varadhan @ Panni Varadhan, male, aged about 31 years, S/o Krishnan, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, 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 :

M/s.P.Prince Premkumar, For respondents:

Mr.V.M.R. Rajentren, Addl. Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S. NAGAMUTHU,J.,) The petitioner, who is the sister of the detenu Varadhan @ Paanai Varadhan, has come up with this Habeas Corpus Petition, challenging the detention order passed against the detenu Varadhan @ Paanai Varadhan by the first respondent, vide

proceedings No.931/BCDFGISSSV/2016 dated 20.08.2016.

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 that though there was no bail application pending in Crime Nos.976/2016 and 980/2016 and the detaining authority has stated that the relatives of the detenu were taking steps to file bail application, 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 Nos.976/2016 and 980/2016.

5. We have considered the above submissions. Admittedly, as on the date of passing of the detention order, there was no application filed by the detenu seeking bail in Crime Nos.976/2016 and 980/2016 on the file of J-1 Saidapet 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 20.08.2016, passed by the first respondent is set aside. The detenu is directed to be released forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

-s/dAssistant Registrar(CSVI) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar sr/sts

To 1.The Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Office-Greater Chennai, Vepery, Chennai-7.

2.The Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Prohibition & Excise Department,(Home) Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai.

H.C.P.No.2159 of 2016 rsl(co) aa05/05/2017