Mallika v. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 06.07.2023

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.(MD)No.1743 of 2022 Mallika .. Petitioner /Detenu's Mother Vs.

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

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

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 pertaining to the impugned detention order passed by the second respondent made in his proceedings in Detention Order.79/2022 dated 23.08.2022 detaining the

detenu under Section 2(ggg) of Tamilnadu Act 14 of 1982 as a "Sexual Offender" and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu namely Navaneethakrishnan, S/o.Palpandi Male aged about 21 years, who is detained in Central Prison, Madurai, before this Court and set him at liberty.

For Petitioner : Mr.Joseph Jerry For Respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by M.S.RAMESH,J.) The petitioner is the mother of the detenu viz., Navaneethakrishnan, aged about 21 years, S/o.Palpandi. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Detention Order No.79/2022 dated 23.08.2022 holding him to be a "Sexual Offender", as contemplated under Section 2(ggg) 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. Though the learned counsel for the petitioner has raised several other grounds to assail the order of detention, he has mainly focused his argument on the ground that the copy of the initial remand order has not been furnished to the detenu in vernacular language, despite the same has been sought for by the petitioner in her representation. Therefore, on the sole ground, the detention order is liable to be quashed.

4. On consideration of the submissions made on either side and upon perusal of the documents available on record, especially, the representation made by the petitioner dated 05.09.2022, she had sought for the initial remand order, however, the same has not been furnished to the detenu in vernacular language, which vitiates the order of detention.

5. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in Detention Order No.79/2022 dated 23.08.2022 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Navaneethakrishnan, S/o.Palpandi, aged about 21 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.) 06.07.2023 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Lm To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

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

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

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

M.S.RAMESH,J.

and M.NIRMAL KUMAR,J.

Lm H.C.P.(MD)No.1743 of 2022 06.07.2023