G.Sangeetha v. The State Represented By Its
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30.06.2020 Coram The Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.M.SUNDRESH and The Hon'ble Mr. Justice D.KRISHNAKUMAR H.C.P. No. 2822 of 2019 G.Sangeetha, F/A 21 years W/o.Gopinath No.18, Labour Colony 3rd Cross Street Pallikaranai Chennai - 600 100.
... Petitioner -vs1.State Represented by its Home Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu Home Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police Chennai City E.V.K.Sampath Salai Vepery, Chennai.
... Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of habeas corpus call for the records in relating to the order of detention passed by the 2nd respondent dated 18.11.2019 in B.C.D.F.G.I.S.S.S.V No. 789/2019 against the detenu Gopinath @ Goya Gopi, Male, aged about 31 years, son of Kuppan, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenue before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Karthik For Respondents : Mr.R.Prathap Kumar, Addl. Public Prosecutor
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by M.M.SUNDRESH, J.] The petitioner is the wife of the detenu Gopinath @ Goya Gopi, Male, aged about 31 years, son of Kuppan. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in B.C.D.F.G.I.S.S.S.V No. 789/2019 dated 18.11.2019 holding to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.
2.We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.
3.The main argument of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is that the case relied on by the detaining authority is not similar in nature and the offences in the adverse cases and the ground case are totally different. Therefore, the likelihood of the detenu coming out on bail is not there and the subjective satisfaction arrived by the detaining authority is not proper.
4.For appreciating the contentions raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the relevant averments in para 4 of the grounds of detention are extracted below: "4.I am aware that Thiru Gopinath @ Goya Gopi is in remand in E-3 Teynampet Police Station Crime Nos. 543/2019, 587/2019 and 590/2019 and he has not moved any bail applications for E-3 Teynampet Police Station Crime Nos.543/2019, 587/2019 and 590/2019 so far. The sponsoring authority has stated that Thiru.Gopinath @ Goya Gopi's relatives are taking action to take him out on bail in E-3 Teynampet Police Station Crime Nos.543/2019, 587/2019 and 590/2019 by filing bail application before the appropriate court. In the adverse case registered at E-3 Teynampet Police Station Cr.No.
543/2019 under Sections 147,148,294(b), 323, 397 and 506(ii) IPC bail was granted to coaccused by the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai in Crl.M.P.Nos. 21286 & 21309/2019. In the similar case registered at R1 Mambalam Police Station Cr.No.18/2019 u/s 147,148, 341,294(b),307,323,506(ii) IPC bail was granted to the accused by the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai in Crl.M.P.No.996/2019. Hence, I infer that there is real possibility of his coming out on bail in E-3 Teynampet Police Station Crime Nos.
590/2019 by filing bail applications before the appropriate court, since in similarly placed cases bails are granted by courts after a lapse of time. If he comes out on bail, he will indulge in further activities, which will be prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. ........"
5.From a perusal of the detention order, it is seen that the detaining authority has taken into consideration the similar case registered at R1 Mambalam Police Station Cr.No.18/2019 u/s 147,148, 341,294(b),307,323,506(ii) IPC bail was granted to the accused by the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Chennai in Crl.M.P.No.996/2019 and therefore, there is a real possibility of the detenu coming out on bail and indulge in such activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The similar case relied on by the authority was registered for the offences u/s 147,148, 341,294(b),307,323,506(ii) IPC whereas the offences involved in the adverse cases and the ground case are u/s 147,148,294(b),323,397, 506(ii) IPC, 147,148,294(b), 324, 307, 506(ii) IPC r/w 34 IPC and 147, 294(b), 323, 397 and 506(ii). Therefore, there is non-application of mind on the part of the detaining authority in not considering the similar case for arriving at subjective satisfaction. Hence the impugned order of detention is liable to be set aside.
6. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in B.C.D.F.G.I.S.S.S.V No.789/2019 dated 18.11.2019, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, Gopinath @ Goya Gopi, Male, aged about 31 years, son of Kuppan, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. s/d- Assistant Registrar True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar raa/mmi/ssm To 1.The Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu Home Prohibition and Excise Department Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Commissioner of Police Chennai City E.V.K.Sampath Salai Vepery, Chennai.
3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai.
4.The Joint Secretary to Government Public (Law and order) Fort. St. George Chennai 9.
5.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
H.C.P.No.2822 of 2019 AD(CO) SP(30/07/2020)