Allowed

Sumathi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Madras HC2 Feb 2015HCP/2252/2014

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Chief Justice Jegadeesan J and Justice M. Jaichandren allowed a habeas corpus petition, quashing a detention order under the Tamil Nadu Dangerous Activities Act. The court held that failing to supply the detenu with a copy of a bail application from a similar case violated Article 22(5), thereby depriving him of the right to make an effective representation.

What did the court decide?

The impugned detention order is set aside. The detenu is directed to be released forthwith.

Sumathi Vs the State of Tamil Nadu — Bail and Remand | Madras HC (2015)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 02.02.2015

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JAICHANDREN

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AND

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THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE ARUNA JAGADEESAN

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H.C.P.No.2252 of 2014
Sumathi ..Petitioner
Vs
1.State of Tamil Nadu,
Rep. By its Secretary to Government,
Home, Prohibition & Excise Department,
Fort St.George
Chennai 600009
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate,
Thiruvannamalai District,
Tiruvannamalai. ..Respondents

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Prayer:- This Habeas Corpus Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to call for the records pertaining to the order of detention passed by the 2^nd respondent made in detention Order in D.O.No.24/2014-C2 dated 07.08.2014 and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the body and person of the detenu, Kumar @ Nolla Kumar, S/o Settu, who is now aged about 35 years now confined in Central Prison, Vellore and set him at liberty.

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This Habeas Corpus Petition is filed, by the wife of the detenu, namely, Kumar @ Nolla Kumar, S/o Settu, aged 35 years, to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, to call for the records, in D.O.No.24/2014-C2 dated 07.08.2014, passed by the 2nd Respondent, detaining the detenu, under Section 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14/1982), branding him as a “Bootlegger”, in the Central Prison, Vellore, and to quash the same and to direct the Respondents to produce the body of the detenu and set him at liberty forthwith.

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Though several grounds have been raised in this Habeas Corpus Petition, Mr.R.Balakrishnan, the learned counsel for the petitioner has assailed the impugned detention order only on the ground of non-supply of copy of the bail application in similar case, referred to in the grounds of detention, for arriving at the subjective satisfaction that there is likelihood of the detenu coming out on bail, which has affected the constitutional right of making an effective and purposeful representation to the authorities concerned, thereby vitiating the detention.

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Per contra, Mr.C.Emalias, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the impugned detention order has been passed on cogent and sufficient materials and there is no illegality or infirmity in the impugned order of detention. However, he submitted that the copy of the bail application in similar case, referred to in the grounds of detention was not supplied to the detenu.

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We have given our careful and anxious consideration to the rival submissions put forward by the learned counsel on either side and thoroughly scanned through the impugned detention order and the entire materials available on record.

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It is seen from paragraph No.5 of the Grounds of Detention that in similar case, the accused was released on bail by the District Sessions Court, Tiruvannamalai, in Crl.M.P.No.3918/2011 in Crime No.499/2011 on the file of Vettavalam Police Station for the offence under sections 4(1)(i), 4(1)(aaa) r/w 4(1-A)(ii) TNP Act. On a perusal of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution, it is seen that it does not contain the copy of the said bail application in similar case. The said bail application filed in similar case was a document relied upon by the Detaining Authority to come to a subjective satisfaction that the detenu was likely to be released on bail. Admittedly, such a document has not been supplied to the detenu, as it did not form part of the Paper Book furnished by the Prosecution. Therefore, non supply of the copy of the bail application in similar case to the detenu would vitiate the impugned detention order.

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The Honourable Supreme Court in M.Ahamed Kutty Vs. Union of India and another (1990-2-SCC-1) has observed thus:“7. Considering the facts in the instant case, the bail application and the bail order were vital materials for consideration. If those were not considered the

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satisfaction of the detaining authority itself would have been impaired and if those had been considered, they would be documents relied on by the detaining authority though not specifically mentioned in the annexure to the order of detention and those ought to have formed part of the documents supplied to the detenu with the grounds of detention and without them the grounds themselves could not be said to have been complete. We have, therefore, no alternative but to hold that it amounted to denial of the detenu's right to make an effective representation and that it resulted in violation of Article 22(5) of the Constitution of India rendering the continued detention of the detenu illegal and entitling the detenu to be set at liberty in this case.” (Emphasis added).”

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This Court in Jarinabegam Vs. State of Tamil Nadu by Secretary to Government, Prohibition and Exercise Department, Chennai and another (2007-1-MLJ-Crl-18) relying upon the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court cited supra has held that non supply of the copy of the bail application in similar case to the detenu has the effect of vitiating the order or detention.

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As already analysed by us, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, non-supply of the copy of the bail application in similar case, to the detenu has the effect of vitiating the impugned detention order. Further, due to non-supply of such a vital document, the detenu has lost valuable right to make an effective representation to the authorities concerned.

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In the light of the above said principles laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court and for the reasons stated above, the impugned order of detention is vitiated and the same is liable to be quashed.

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In the result, this Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The impugned detention order is set aside. The detenu is directed to be released forthwith, unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

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Sd/Asst.Registrar (Lok adalat)

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/true copy/

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vsi

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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To
1. The Secretary to Government,
Home, Prohibition & Excise Department,
Fort St.George
Chennai 600009
2. The District Collector and District Magistrate,
Thiruvannamalai District,
Tiruvannamalai.
3. The Superintendent
Central Prison, Vellore
4. The Joint Secretary to Government
Public (Law and order) Fort Saint George,
Chennai
5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai.
HCP.No.2252 of 2014
RV (CO)
kk 25/2

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Sumathi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sumathi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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