S.Gopal v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 08.06.2016

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.NAGAMUTHU and THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE V.BHARATHIDASAN H.C.P.No.287/2016 S.Gopal .. Petitioner versus 1.The State of Tamil Nadu rep. by its Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009.

2.The Commissioner of Police, Veppery, Chennai 7.

.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS to call for the records of detention MEMO NO.BCDFGISSSV No.76/2016 dated 08/02/2016 passed by the 2nd respondent and to quash the same and also to direct the detenu Hari @ Hariharan who is presently detained in the Central Prision PUZHAL to be produced before this Hon`ble court and set at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.V.Devendhiran For Respondents :

Mr.A.N.Thambidurai, Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

[Order of the Court was made by V.BHARATHIDASAN, J.] This Habeas Corpus Petition is filed by the brother of the detenu, namely, Hari @ Hariharan, aged about 31 years, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records, in detention MEMO NO.BCDFGISSSV No.76/2016 dated 08/02/2016 passed by the 2nd respondent, detaining the detenu, under Section 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14/1982), the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982, branding him as a "Goonda", in the Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, and to quash the same and to direct the Respondents to produce the body of the detenu and set him at liberty forthwith.

2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the State and we have also perused the records carefully.

3. Though, several grounds have been raised in this Habeas Corpus Petition, Mr.V.Devendhiran, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, had assailed the impugned detention order mainly on the ground that the detaining authority had stated, in Paragraph No.4 of the order of detention, that no bail applications had been moved on behalf of the detenu for R-6 Kumaran Nagar Police Station Cr.Nos.97/2016, 98/2016 and 100/2016. However, in the detention order it had been stated that the relatives of the detenu are taking action to take him out on bail, in those police station crime numbers, by filing bail applications before the appropriate Court. It had also been pointed out that no statements had been recorded from the relatives of the detenu with regard to the claim that they are taking steps to move bail applications, on behalf of the detenu and no such statements had been furnished to the detenu.

4. The said submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, had not been refuted by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor.

5. It is noted from the records available that no statements had been recorded from the relatives concerned to substantiate the claim that they are taking steps to move bail applications on behalf of the detenu, to take him out on bail, in the above said cases. In such circumstances, we find that there is non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority, in passing the detention order. Therefore, we are inclined to set aside the detention order.

6. Accordingly, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the impugned detention order, dated 8.2.2016, 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(CCC) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar svki

To 1.The Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009.

2.The Commissioner of Police, Veppery, Chennai 600 007.

3.The Superintendent of Police, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai

4. The Joint Secretary to Government Public (Law & order), Fort St. George, Chennai. 600 009. 5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.287/2016 ALA(CO) EU 5.7.16