Madras High Court
Mohana vs The Secretary To Government on 9 August, 2021
Bench: P.N.Prakash, R.N.Manjula
H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 09.08.2021
Coram
The Honourable Mr. Justice P.N.PRAKASH
and
The Honourable Ms. Justice R.N.MANJULA
H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
Mohana .. Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Secretary to Government,
Home, Prohibition and Excise Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate,
Ranipet District, Ranipet – 1.
3.The Superintendent of Police,
Ranipet District, Ranipet.
4.The Superintendent of Prison,
Central Prison,
Vellore – 2.
5.The Inspector of Police,
SIPCOT Police Station,
Ranipet District. .. Respondents
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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to
issue a writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in connection with
the order of detention passed by the second respondent 05.02.2021 in
B3/D.O.No.09/2021 against the petitioner's husband Amaran, aged
about 29 years, son of Thavamani, who is confined at Central Prison,
Vellore and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce
the detenu before this Court and set aside the same and set him at
liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Senthil Vel
For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj,
Govt.Advocate (Crl.Side)
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by P.N.PRAKASH, J.] The petitioner is the wife of the detenu Amaran, aged about 29 years, son of Thavamani. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in B3/D.O.No.09/2021 dated 05.02.2021, 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.
Page 2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 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 argument 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 representation made by the petitioner was not considered on time and there was an inordinate and unexplained delay.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 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 Government Advocate (Crl.Side), 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. Page 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
5. The Detention Order in question was passed on 05.02.2021. The petitioner made a representation on 19.02.2021. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 23.02.2021. The remarks were duly received on 10.03.2021. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 12.04.2021.
6. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 15 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which, 4 days were Government Holidays and hence there was an inordinate delay of 11 days in submitting the remarks. It is the further contention of the petitioner that the remarks were received on 10.03.2021 and there was a delay of 33 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department after the Deputy Secretary dealt with it, of which, 11 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was an inordinate delay of 22 days in considering the representation. Page 4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021
7. In Rekha vs. State of Tamil Nadu (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.
8. In Sumaiya vs. The Secretary to Government (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.
9. 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.
10. In the subject case, admittedly, there is an inordinate and unexplained delay of 11 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and unexplained delay of 22 days in considering Page 5 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021 the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed.
In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in B3/D.O.No.09/2021 dated 05.02.2021, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Amaran, aged about 29 years, son of Thavamani, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.
(P.N.P.,J.) (R.N.M.,J.) 09.08.2021 Index: Yes/No nsd Page 6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021 To
1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Ranipet District, Ranipet – 1.
3.The Superintendent of Police, Ranipet District, Ranipet.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Vellore – 2.
5.The Inspector of Police, SIPCOT Police Station, Ranipet District.
6.The Joint Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Public, Law and Order Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 9.
7.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.
Page 7 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ H.C.P.No.246 of 2021 P.N.PRAKASH,J.
and R.N.MANJULA,J.
nsd H.C.P.No.246 of 2021 09.08.2021 Page 8 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/