Usha v. The Secretary To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 17.05.2016

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.KALYANASUNDARAM and THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR H.C.P.No.32 of 2016 Usha .. Petitioner vs.

1.Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary Home, Prohibition and Excise (XVI) Department Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2.District Magistrate and District Collector, Dharmapuri.

.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus calling for the records in S.C.No.42 of 2015, dated 18.11.2015 on the file of the 2nd respondent herein and quash the same and direct the respondents herein to produce the body of the petitioner's brother-in-law Jayaraj S/o. Rangasamy, Aged 30 years, now confined in Central Prison, Salem before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Ms.R.Subhadra Devi For Respondents : Mr.M.Maharaja Addl. Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by K.KALYANASUNDARAM, J.] Challenge is made to the order of detention passed by the second respondent vide Proceedings in S.C.No.42/2015 dated 18.11.2015, whereby the detenu, namely Jayaraj, S/o.Rangasamy, aged about 30 years, was ordered to be detained under the provisions of 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) branding him as a "GOONDA".

2. Though many grounds have been raised in the petition, Ms.R.Subhadra Devi, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, confines her argument only in respect of nonapplication of mind on the part of the detaining authority in passing the order of detention.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the detenu has been remanded to judicial custody in the ground case in Cr.No.438 of 2015 registered by the Palacode Police Station as well as in the adverse cases in Cr.Nos.567/2015, 373/2015, 145/2015 and 582/2015 registered by the Dharmapuri Police station, Palacode Police Station, Kottappatti Police Station and Harur Police station respectively and though a mention has been made by the Detaining Authority in respect of the ground case in paragraph 4 of the Grounds of Detention, the factum of the remand of the detenu in the adverse cases in Cr.Nos.567/2015, 373/2015, 145/2015 and 582/2015 has not been reflected. This is indicative of the non-application of mind on the part of the Detaining Authority and hence, submitted that the detention order is vitiated and the same is liable to be quashed.

4. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the order of detention has been passed on cogent and sufficient materials and the same cannot be interfered with at the instance of the petitioner. Therefore, he submits that the Habeas Corpus Petition does not merit any consideration and the same is liable to be dismissed.

5. We have heard the learned counsel for both sides with regard to the facts and citation.

6. As could be evidenced from the Grounds of Detention, the detenu was arrested in the ground case in Cr.No.438 of 2015 as well as in the adverse cases in Cr.Nos.567/2015, 373/2015, 145/2015 and 582/2015, but the factum of remand of the detenu in the adverse cases in Cr.Nos.567/2015, 373/2015, 145/2015 and 582/2015 has not been reflected in paragraph 4 of the Grounds of Detention. When nothing has been stated about the remand of the detenu in the said adverse cases, it is not known whether the detenu has filed any bail application in the said adverse cases or not. If that be so, there is no imminent possibility of the detenu coming out on bail in the said adverse cases. Hence, the Detaining Authority has passed the Detention order in total nonapplication of mind which would vitiate the detention order.

7. It is trite law that personal liberty protected under Article 21 is so sacrosanct and so high in the scale of Constitutional values that it is the obligation of the detaining authority to show that the impugned detention meticulously accords with the procedure established by law. Preventive detention is preventive and not punitive. When ordinary law of the land is sufficient to deal with, taking recourse to the preventive detention law is illegal.

8. In the light of the above facts and law, we have no hesitation in quashing the order of detention on the above mentioned ground.

9. Accordingly, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the impugned detention order 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/- Vacation Officer /true copy/ Sub Asst. Registrar To 1.The Principal Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu Home, Prohibition and Excise (XVI) Department Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2.District Magistrate and District Collector, Dharmapuri.

3.The Superintendent Central Prison, Salem.

4. The Joint Secretary to Government Public Law and order Fort St. George, Chennai 5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.32 of 2016 RSY (CO) kk 30/5