Murugan v. The Secretary To The Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 20.01.2020

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBBIAH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.PONGIAPPAN H.C.P.NO.2259 OF 2019 Murugan ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai.

... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in connection with the order of detention passed by second respondent dated 19.08.2019 in Memo No.50/BCDFGISSSV/2019 the petitioner Murugan, male aged 35 years, S/o.Murugesan, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal II, Chennai and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Court and set him at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.E.Yobu For Respondents:

Mr.R.Prathap Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

[Order of this Court was made by R.SUBBIAH, J] Petitioner is the detenu viz. Murugan, aged 32, S/o. Murugesan, who has been branded as a 'Goonda' under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 and detained under order of second respondent passed in No.501/BCDFGISSSV/2019 dated 19.08.2019.

2. The alleged ground case has been registered against the detenu in Crime No.942 of 2019 on the file of T-13 Kundrathur Police Station for offences u/s.341, 294(b), 336, 427, 397 and 506(ii) IPC. Aggrieved by the order of detention, the present writ petition has been filed.

3. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for respondents. Perused the materials on record.

4. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that in the case cited as similar, the offence alleged was under Sections 457 and 380 IPC, whereas the ground case has been registered against the detenu under Sections 341, 294(b), 336, 427, 397 and 506(ii) IPC. The non-consideration of such aspect reflects nonapplication of mind.

5. We have heard learned Additional Public Prosecutor on the above submissions.

6. As rightly submitted by learned counsel for petitioner,the similar case referred to and relied upon by the Detaining Authority to infer that the detenu would be granted bail in the ground case, is not a similar case. Hence, we find that the order of detention suffers from non-application of mind.

Accordingly, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the detention order passed by the second respondent against the detenu viz., Murugan, aged 35 years, S/o.Murugesan, in No.50/BCDFGISSSV/2019 dated 19.08.2019, is quashed. The above named detenu is ordered to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his custody is required in connection with any other case. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VIII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar vga To

1. The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai.

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

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.2259 of 2019 EV(CO) CS/09/03/2020