Anbu Jeba v. The Secretary To The Government,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 20.12.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN H.C.P.No.3135 of 2024 Anbu Jeba ... Petitioner/Wife of the detenu Vs.
1.
The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
District Collector and District Magistrate of Ranipet District, Ranipet - 1.
The Superintendent of Police, Ranipet District, Ranipet.
The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Vellore.
The Inspector of Police, Kalavai Police Station, Ranipet District.
... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records in connection with the order of detention passed by the second respondent dated 18.11.2024 in B3/D.O.No.84/2024 against the petitioner's husband James, Male, aged 42 years, S/o. Gnanaya, who is confined at Central Prison, Vellore and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before the Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Selvakumar For Respondents : Mr. R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The order of detention passed by the second respondent in B3/D.O.No.84/2024 dated 18.11.2024 is sought to be quashed in the present habeas corpus petition.
The impugned detention order has been issued based on the ground case registered under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003
The Act 14 of 1982 was invoked on the ground that the criminal case was registered under Section 123 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Section 123 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita deals about causing hurt by means of poison etc., with an intent to commit an offence. In a broader perpective, it requires careful analysis in view of the fact that there is no direct definition under Act 14 of 1982 with reference to the offences committed under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. No doubt, Section 123 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita may be invoked for the purpose of applying preventive detention law in certain nature of offences for which the Detaining Authority has to subjectively satisfy that there is a likelihood of causing breach of public order.
In the light of the above discussion, we deem it appropriate that the case registered against the detenu may be dealt with under the regular penal law by the Police Authorities.
6.
Accordingly, the detention order passed by the second respondent in proceedings B3/D.O.No.84/2024 dated 18.11.2024 is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., James, aged 42 years, S/o. Gnanaya confined at Central Prison, Vellore is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless he is required in connection with any other case.
[S.M.S., J.] [M.J.R., J.] 20.12.2024 Index :
Yes/No Speaking Order :
Yes/No :
Yes/No veda
To 1.
The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law and Order) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 9.
District Collector and District Magistrate of Ranipet District, Ranipet - 1.
The Superintendent of Police, Ranipet District, Ranipet.
The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Vellore.
6.
The Inspector of Police, Kalavai Police Station, Ranipet District.
7.
The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court, Chennai - 104.
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
veda H.C.P.No.3135 of 2024 20.12.2024