Rupapriyatharchini v. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 19.07.2023
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.(MD)No.2101 of 2022 Ruyapriyatharchini .. Petitioner/Wife of the Detenu Vs.
1.State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.
2.The District Magistrate/District Collector, O/o. District Collector, Theni District, 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 entire records connection with the Detention Order No.100/2022 dated 03.11.2022 passed by the second respondent on the petitioner's husband namely Ramakrishnan (26/22) Son of
Manikandan, Ward No.14, Amaravathi Nagar, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam Taluk, Theni District, has been detained and branded as "Goonda" under Section 3(1) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 and confined at Central Prison, Madurai to set aside the same and to produce him before this Court and set him at liberty forthwith.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Maran 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., Ramakrishnan, S/o.Manikandan, aged about 26 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Detention Order No.100/2022 dated 03.11.2022 holding him to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) 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. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner strongly contended that though the detenu was arrested on 11.09.2022, the detention order was passed only on 03.11.2022, i.e., after a considerable delay of 53 days. Therefore, the detention order has to be set aside.
4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor strongly opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition by filing his counter. It is further submitted that investigation has been completed in this case and final report has been filed in S.C.No.26 of 2023 and the same is pending before the Mahila Court,
5. As seen from the grounds of detention, it is clear that though the detenu was arrested on 11.09.2022, the order of detention came to be passed only on 03.11.2022 and hence, there is an abnormal delay in passing the order of detention, which caused prejudice to the interest of the detenu.
6. 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.
7. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in Detention Order No.100/2022 dated 03.11.2022 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Ramakrishnan, S/o.Manikandan, 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.) 19.07.2023 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Lm/mbi
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.
2.The District Magistrate/District Collector, O/o. District Collector, Theni District, 3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.
4.The Joint Secretary to Government, Public (Law and Order), Fort St.George, Chennai.
5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
M.S.RAMESH,J.
and M.NIRMAL KUMAR,J.
Lm/mbi H.C.P.(MD)No.2101 of 2022 19.07.2023