Pannerselvam v. Secretray To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 01.11.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR . JUSTICE S.S.SUNDAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN H.C.P.No.1827/2023 Panneerselvam ..

Petitioner

Versus

1.State rep.by Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.

2.The District Collector & District Magistrate Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai.

3.The Superintendent of Police Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai.

4.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli.

5.The Inspector of Police Poombuhar Police Station Mayiladuthurai District.

.. Respondents Prayer:- Habeas Corpus Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a Writ of Habeas Corpus calling for the records in connection with the order of detention passed by the 2nd respondent dated 08.11.2022 in CC.No.52/2022 against the petitioner's son Mathiyazhagan, age 29 years, son of Panneerselvam, who is confined in Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli, and set aside the detention order and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner :

Mr.I.Ramanathan For Respondents :

Mr.E.Raj Thilak Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.Aravind.C

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by S.S.SUNDAR, J.) (1)The petitioner, father of the detenu Mathiyazhagan, aged 29 years, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 08.11.2022 slapped on his son, branding him as "Sexual Offender" under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982].

(2)Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. (3)Though several points have been raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is stated that the detention order is liable to be quashed on the ground that the detenu was furnished with illegible copies of the Prayer for Remand ; Remand Extension Order and the Requisition of the Sponsoring Authority to send the detenu for medical examination, which documents were relied upon by the Detaining Authority to arrive at the subjective satisfaction about the possibility of the detenu's release on bail. Hence, it is submitted that the detenu was deprived of making effective representation.

(4)It is seen that in pages No.93, 94 and 96, 97 of the Booklet furnished to the detenu, wherein the documents pertaining to the prayer for remand, remand extension order and the requisition for medical examination of the detenu, are not clear and the said documents are illegible. It is stated that furnishing of illegible copies of the vital documents would deprive the detenu of making effective representation to the authorities against the order of detention.

(5)In this context, it is useful to refer to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu reported in (1999) 2 SCC 413. The Hon'ble Supreme Court had occasion to deal with similar situation where in the Grounds of Detention referred to an order remanding the detenu therein to judicial custody was in English language. Since the tamil version of the document was not supplied to the detenue therein, a specific issue was raised by the Hon'ble Supreme Court whether failure to supply tamil version of the remand order passed in English, a language not known to the detenu therein, would vitiate the detenu's further detention. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, after discussing the safeguards embodied in Article 22[5] of the Constitution, observed that the detenu should be afforded an opportunity of making representation effectively against the Detention Order and that, the failure to supply every material in the language which can be understood by the detenu, is imperative. In the said context, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held in Paragraphs 9 and 16 as follows:

''9.However, this Court has maintained a distinction between a document which has been relied

upon by the detaining authority in the grounds of detention and a document which finds a mere reference in the grounds of detention. Whereas the non-supply of a copy of the document relied upon in the grounds of detention has been held to be fatal to continued detention, the detenu need not show that any prejudice is caused to him. This is because the non-supply of such a document would amount to denial of the right of being communicated the grounds and of being afforded the opportunity of making an effective representation against the order. But it would not be so where the document merely finds a reference in the order of detention or among the grounds thereof. In such a case, the detenu's complaint of non-supply of document has to be supported by prejudice caused to him in making an effective representation. What applies to a document would equally apply to furnishing a translated copy of the document in the language known to and understood by the detenu, should the document be in a different language.

.....

16. For the above reasons, in our view, the nonsupply of the Tamil version of the English document, on the facts and in the circumstances, renders her continued detention illegal. We, therefore, direct that the detenue be set free forthwith unless she is required to be detained in any other case. The appeal is accordingly allowed.''

(6)Thus, the detention order is vitiated on the ground of non-furnishing of legible copies of the vital documents and hence, the same is liable to be quashed.

(7)In view of the aforesaid reason, the detention order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 08.11.2022 in COC.No.52/2022 is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless he is required in connection with any other case. [SSSRJ] [SMJ] 01.11.2023 AP Internet : Yes

To Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.

2.The District Collector & District Magistrate Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai.

3.The Superintendent of Police Mayiladuthurai District, Mayiladuthurai.

4.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli.

5.The Inspector of Police Poombuhar Police Station Mayiladuthurai District.

6.The Public Prosecutor High Court, Madras.

S.S.SUNDAR, J., AND SUNDER MOHAN, J., AP H.C.P.No.1827/2023 01.11.2023