M.Ponnukutti v. The Additional Cheif Secretary To Government
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.02.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR M.Ponnukutti ... Petitioner/ Wife of the Detenu vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.
4.The Inspector of Police, Suthamalli Police Station, Tirunelveli District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the entire records connected with the detention order of the respondent No.2 in Detention Order No.M.H.S.Confdl No.66 of 2021 dated 08.07.2021 and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the body or person of the detenu, Mariappan @ Mayandi, son of Chellappa, aged about 31 years, now detained as ''Goonda'' Central Prison, Palayamkottai, before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.C.Saravana Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravi Additional Public Prosecutor.
ORDER
R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.
AND N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
The petitioner is the wife of the detenu, namely, Mariappan @ Mayandi, son of Chellappa, aged about 31 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in 1/4
No.M.H.S.Confdl No.66 of 2021 dated 08.07.2021, holding him to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.
2.
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.
3.
Though several grounds have been raised in the Habeas Corpus Petition, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would mainly focus his arguments on the ground that there is gross violation of procedural safeguards, which would vitiate the detention. The learned counsel, by placing authorities, submitted that the representations made by the petitioner were not considered in time and there was an inordinate and unexplained delay with regard to the same.
4.
The learned Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition. He would submit that though there was delay in considering the representation, on that score alone, the impugned detention order cannot be quashed. According to the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, no prejudice has been caused to the detenu and thus, there is no violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India. 5.
The Detention Order in question was passed on 08.07.2021. The petitioner made his representation on 28.07.2021 and the same was received on 02.08.2021 and remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 02.08.2021 and remarks were received on 27.09.2021, in which, there is a delay of 37 days excluding the Government Holidays of 18 days. Ultimately, the petitioner's representation came to be rejected on 20.10.2021. Thus, there is a delay of 37 days in considering the petitioner's representations which remains unexplained.
6.
In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu, reported in 2011 (5) SCC 244, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that the procedural safeguards are required to be zealously watched and enforced by the Courts of law and their rigour cannot be allowed to be diluted on the basis of the nature of the alleged activities undertaken by the detenu.
7.
In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government, reported in 2007 (2) MWN (Cr.) 145, a Division Bench of this Court has held that the unexplained delay of three days in disposal of the representation made on behalf of the detenu would be sufficient to set aside the order of detention.
2/4
8.
In Tara Chand vs. State of Rajasthan and others, reported in 1980 (2) SCC 321, the Honourable Supreme Court has held that any inordinate and unexplained delay on the part of the Government in considering the representation renders the very detention illegal. 9.
In the present case, admittedly, there is an unexplained delay of 37 days in considering the representation. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed. 10.
In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.M.H.S.Confdl No.66 of 2021 dated 08.07.2021 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, namely, Mariappan @ Mayandi, son of Chellappa, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-I) // True Copy // / /2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) bala To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.
4.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law and Order), Fort. St.George, Chennai-9 5.The Inspector of Police, Suthamalli Police Station, Tirunelveli District.
3/4
6.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
H.C.P(MD)No.1157 of 2021 11.02.2022 SR(CO) GC(25.02.2022) 4P 7C 4/4