Mercyjoys v. The Principal Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 29.09.2023

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.(MD)No.671 of 2023 Mercyjoys ... Petitioner / Wife of the Detenu Vs.

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

2.The District Magistrate and District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.

.. Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records relating to the detention order passed by the 2nd respondent in Detention Order No.21 of 2023, dated 29.03.2023 in detaining the detenue

under Section 2(e) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 as a Drug Offender and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the body or detenu, namely, Sathishkumar, S/o.Suresh, aged about 26 years now detained at Central Prison, Madurai before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Prakash For Respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by M.S.RAMESH,J.) The petitioner is the wife of the detenu viz., Sathishkumar, S/o.Suresh, aged about 26 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Detention Order No.21 of 2023, dated 29.03.2023, holding him to be a "Drug Offender", as contemplated under Section 2(e) 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.Among other grounds, the detention order is mainly attacked on the ground that there is a delay in passing the order of detention. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner strongly contended that though the detenu was arrested on 17.10.2022, the detention order was passed only on 29.03.2023 i.e., after a considerable delay of 5 months. Therefore, the detention order has to be set aside.

4.As seen from the grounds of detention, it is clear that though the detenu was arrested on 17.10.2022, the order of detention came to be passed only on 29.03.2023 and hence, there is an abnormal delay in passing the order of Detention, which caused prejudice to the interest of the detenu.

5.We have gone through the entire materials placed on record. There is no satisfactory explanation offered by the Detaining Authority for the delay in passing the order of detention. 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 Detention Order No.21 of 2023, dated 29.03.2023 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Sathishkumar, S/o.Suresh, aged about 26 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. (M.S.R.,J.) & (M.N.K.,J.) 29.09.2023 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Yuva

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

2.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public Law and Order, Fort ST.George, Chennai-600 009.

3.The District Magistrate and District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.

5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

M.S.RAMESH, J.

AND M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

Yuva H.C.P.(MD)No.671 of 2023 29.09.2023