Poonkodi v. State Of Tamil Nadu Rep.By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 03.12.2018

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE C.T.SELVAM and THE HONOURABLE Mrs.JUSTICE S.RAMATHILAGAM H.C.P. No.2497 of 2018 Poonkodi ... Petitioner -Vs1.The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009. 2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records pertaining to the order of detention passed in No.C2/27613/2018 dated 27.09.2018 passed by the 2nd respondent and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce my husband by name Elumalai S/o. Venu Gounder, aged about 36 years before this Hon'ble Court now confined in Central Prison, Cuddalore set him at liberty.

For Petitioner :

Mr.M.Subash For Respondents :

Mr.R.Prathap Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

[Order of the Court was made by C.T.SELVAM, J.] The petitioner is the wife of the detenu, namely, Elumalai, Son of Venu Gounder, age 36 years, challenges the impugned order of detention, dated 27.09.2018 in No.C2/27613/2018 detaining her husband as "BOOTLEGGER", as contemplated under Section 2(b) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of dangerous activities of Boot leggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14/1982).

2.The ground case has been registered against the detenu in Crime No.479/2018 on the file of the Kallakurichi Prohibition Enforcement Wing for offences u/s 4(1-A), 4(1) (aaa), 4(1)(i) 1937 Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. The detention order has been passed by second respondent in No.C2/27613/2018 on 27.09.2018.

3. We have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

4. Though several grounds have been raised in the Habeas Corpus Petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, confines his argument only in respect of nonapplication of mind on the part of the detaining authority in passing the order of detention.

5. The Grounds of Detention would reveal that a ground case was registered against him in Cr.No.479/2018 for the offences u/s.4(1-A), 4(1)(aaa), 4(1)(i) 1937 Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. Admittedly, the detenu has moved bail application in the ground case and the same is pending before the Court of Sessions, Viluppuram Sessions Division, Viluppuram in Crl.M.P.No.6398/2018. Therefore, the probability of release of the detenu imminently does not arise. Hence, we are inclined to set aside the detention order. Though the detaining authority has made reliance on similar case, in which an accused was granted bail, the facts involved in those cases are different. The principle of similarity cannot be applied mechanically. Normally, bails are granted based on the facts and circumstances of each case. Therefore, similar case plea, cannot be taken into consideration.

Hence, there is no material to substantiate that there is real possibility of the detenue coming out on bail and the said order was passed without application of mind.

6. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.C2/27613/2018 dated 27.09.2018, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Elumalai, Son of Venu Gounder, aged about 36 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Deputy Registrar //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar kkn

To:

1. The Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009. 2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Cuddalore.

4.The Joint Secretary Public (Law and order) Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

5.The Public Prosecutor High Court, Madras.

H.C.P.No.2497 of 2018 GMY(02/01/2019)