Allowed

Usha Rani v. the Secretary to the Government

Madras HC23 Jul 2021HCP/12/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court allowed a habeas corpus petition challenging a detention order under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Entry Into and Stay in Prohibited Areas Act. The Court quashed the order due to gross, unexplained delays in the mandatory statutory procedure for considering the detainee's representation.

What did the court decide?

The order of detention No.514/BCDFGISSSV/2020 dated 17.12.2020 set aside, and the detenu directed to be released forthwith unless required in another case.

Usha Rani Vs the Secretary to the Government — Bail and Remand | Madras HC (2021)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED 23.07.2021

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH AND THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE R.PONGIAPPAN

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H.C.P.No.12 of 2021

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Usha Rani .. Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The Secretary to the Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Secretariat, Chennai-9

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2.The Commissioner of Police Greater Chennai

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3.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison, Puzhal Chennai-66

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4.The Inspector of Police (L&O) T-2 Ambattur Estate Police Station Chennai .. Respondents

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Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS to call for the entire records in connection with the order of detention passed by the 2^nd respondent dated 17.12.2020 in No.514/BCDFGISSSV/2020 against the petitioner's son viz., Saran @ Saranraj, aged 26 years, S/o.Velu, who is confined at Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu before this Hon'ble Court and set him at liberty.

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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Senthil Vel For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj

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Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

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[Order of the Court was made by P.N.PRAKASH, J.]

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The petitioner is the mother of the detenu viz., Saran @ Saranraj, aged 26 years, S/o.Velu. The detenu has been detained by the 2^nd respondent by his order dated 17.12.2020 in

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

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No.514/BCDFGISSSV/2020, 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.

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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.

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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.

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The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) filed his counter affidavit and strongly 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.

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The Detention Order in question was passed on 17.12.2020. The petitioner made a representation on 29.06.2021. Thereafter, remarks were called for by the Government from the Detaining Authority on 02.07.2021. The remarks were duly received on 12.07.2021. Thereafter, the Government considered the matter and passed the order rejecting the petitioner's representation on 22.07.2021.

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It is the contention of the petitioner that there was a delay of 10 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority, of which 4 days were Government Holidays and hence, there was an inordinate delay of 6 days in submitting the remarks. It is the further contention of the petitioner that the remarks were received on 12.07.2021 and there was a delay of 10 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 3 days were Government Holidays, hence, there was inordinate delay of 7 days in considering the representation.

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

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In Rekha Vs. State of Tamil Nadu [2011 (5) SCC 244], the Hon'ble 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.

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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.

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In Tara Chand Vs. State of Rajasthan and others, reported in [1980 (2) SCC 321], the Hon'ble 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.

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In the subject case, admittedly, there is an inordinate and unexplained delay of 6 days in submitting the remarks by the Detaining Authority and unexplained delay of 7 days in considering the representation by the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Department. The impugned detention order is, therefore, liable to be quashed.

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In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.514/BCDFGISSSV/2020, dated 17.12.2020, passed by the 2^nd respondent is set aside. The detenu viz., Saran @ Saranraj, aged 26 years, S/o.Velu, is directed to be released forthwith, unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

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Sd/-

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Assistant Registrar(CCC)

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Sub Assistant Registrar

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gya

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1.The Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Secretariat, Chennai-9

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