Allowed

Saravanan v. Chief Secretary to Government

Madras HC5 Feb 2024HCP/2159/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Father's habeas corpus petition challenged a preventive detention order branding his son a drug offender under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The Court found the Detaining Authority's subjective satisfaction on likely bail release was based on a statutory bail under Section 167(2) CrPC, not merits, showing non-application of mind, quashed the detention and ordered release.

What did the court decide?

Detention order dated 29.09.2023 in C.No.62/D.O./IS/Tiruppur City/2023 set aside; detenu Saran directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless required in any other case.

Saravanan Vs Chief Secretary to Government — Quashing and FIR | Madras HC (2024)

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 05.02.2024

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CORAM :

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH

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AND

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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Saravanan

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...Petitioner/Father of the Detenu

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Vs.

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1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The Commissioner of Police, Detaining Authority, Tiruppur City.

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3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison – Coimbatore,

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4.State rep. by its The Inspector of Police, Veerapandi Police Station, Tiruppur District.

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...Respondents.

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Prayer : Habeas Corpus Petition filed und er Article 226 of the Constitution

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Page 1 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the entire records of the 2nd respondent, in his proceeding in C.No.62/D.O./IS/Tiruppur City/2023 dated 29.09.2023 to quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to produce the detenu, Saran, S/o.Saravanan, aged about 20 years now confined in Central Prison, Coimbatore, and set him liberty forthwith.

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For Petitioner : Mr.K. Sudhakar For Respondents : Mr.E.Raj Thilak Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.C.Aravind

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O R D E R

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(Order of the Court was made by SUNDER MOHAN, J. )

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The petitioner, father of the detenu Saran , aged 20 years, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 29.09.2023 slapped on his son, branding him as "Drug Offender" under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber Law Offenders, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Sexual Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 [Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982].

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Page 2 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned

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Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents.

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Though several points have been raised by the learned counsel for

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the petitioner, the detention order is liable to be quashed on the sole ground that the subjective satisfaction of the Detaining Authority regarding the possibility of the detenu coming out on bail by relying upon the bail order granted to the accused in a similar case, suffers from non-application of mind.

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In paragraph No.4 of the Grounds of Detention, the Detaining

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Authority has stated that there is a possibility of the detenu coming out on bail in the ground case since in a similar case, an interim bail was granted to the detenu therein and relied upon an order passed by the Special Court of Essential Commodities Act Cases, Coimbatore, in Spl.C.M.P.No.115/2020. On a perusal of the said order in page No.37 (volume-2) of the Booklet , this Court finds that the said order relates to release of the accused on bail u/s.167[2] of Cr.P.C., and not on merits. Therefore, it is not a similar case

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Page 3 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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and the subjective satisfaction of the Detaining Authority, regarding the possibility of the detenu coming out on bail suffers from non-application of mind, which vitiates the detention order.

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The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the case of Rekha Vs. State of Tamil Nadu through Secretary to Government and Another reported in 2011 [5] SCC 244, has dealt with a situation where the Detention Order is passed without an application of mind. In case any of the reasons stated in the order of detention is non-existent or a material information is wrongly assumed, that will vitiate the Detention Order. In the instant case, the Detaining Authority has arrived at the subjective satisfaction that the detenu is likely to be released on bail by referring to an interim bail order granted to an accused in a similar case in Spl.C.M.P. No.115/2020. However, the said bail was granted on the ground that accused is entitled to statutory bail and not on merits and therefore, the subjective satisfaction of the Detaining Authority that the detenu is likely to be released on bail suffers from nonapplication of mind. Hence, on the above grounds, the Detention Order is liable to be quashed.

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Page 4 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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H.C.P.No.2159 of 2023

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2 nd

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In view of the aforesaid reason, the detention order passed by the

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2^nd respondent dated 29.09.2023 in C.No.62/D.O./IS/Tiruppur City/2023, is

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hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz.,

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Saran , S/o. Saravanan, aged 20 years , is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless he is required in connection with any other case.

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[M.S.R., J] [S.M., J] 05.02.2024

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bga

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Index : Yes / No Neutral Citation : Yes / No

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1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

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