Allowed¶39

Selvi v. State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by Its

Preventive detention – Writ of Habeas Corpus – Detention as "Goonda" under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 – Detenu not furnished translated copy (English) of Tamil remand report

Madras HC10 Mar 2025HCP/116/2025

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Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court HCP 2025 habeas corpus preventive detention Goonda Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 translated copy remand report vernacular effective representation Article 22(5) Constitution Powanammal (1999) 2 SCC 413 Manikandan Tiruppur detention order quashed set at liberty Central Prison Coimbatore Commissioner of Police Detaining Authority

What did the court decide?

Detention order dated 09.12.2024 in C.No.97/G/IS/Tiruppur City/2024 set aside; detenu Manikandan directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his confinement is required in connection with any other case ¶39

Selvi Vs State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by Its — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the detention of the petitioner's husband (Manikandan) as a "Goonda" under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 is liable to be quashed on the ground that the detenu was not furnished with a translated copy of the remand report in vernacular language, thereby depriving him of the ability to make an effective representation

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Court's answer

On perusal of the Booklet, the copy of the remand report was in Tamil and its translated copy in vernacular language (English) had not been furnished to the detenu; this non-furnishing of the copy of a vital document would deprive the detenu of making an effective representation to the authorities against the order of detention

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Ratio / Principle

Applying the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu (1999) 2 SCC 413 and the aforesaid facts, this Court held that the detention order is liable to be quashed

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Key takeaways

The detention order dated 09.12.2024 in C.No.97/G/IS/Tiruppur City/2024 is set aside; the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the detenu Manikandan is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his confinement is required in connection with any other caseratio¶39

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Preventive detention — Writ of Habeas Corpus — Detention as "Goonda" under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 — Detenu not furnished translated copy (English) of Tamil remand report — Non-supply of vital document in language understood by detenu deprives him of effective representation contrary to Article 22(5) safeguards — Following Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu, (1999) 2 SCC 413 — Detention order dated 09.12.2024 quashed; detenu Manikandan directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless required in any other case.

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 10.03.2025

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CORAM :

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S. RAMESH AND

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N. SENTHILKUMAR

H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

Selvi

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.State of Tamil Nadu rep. by its, Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

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

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

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4.The Inspector of Police, Tiruppur South Police Station, Tiruppur City. ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the entire records pertaining to the detention order passed by the 2^nd respondent in C.No.97/G/IS/Tiruppur

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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City/2024 dated 09.12.2024 and set aside the same and direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's husband namely Manikandan, S/o.Ramadas, aged 35 years, who is now confined in Central Prison, Coimbatore, b efore this Court and set him at liberty.

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Vijaya Ragavan For Respondents : Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.M.Sylvester John

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by M.S. RAMESH, J. )

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The petitioner herein, who is the wife of the detenu namely Manikandan , aged about 35 years, S/o.Ramadas, has come forward with this petition challenging the detention order passed by the second respondent dated 09.12.2024 slapped on her husband, branding him as "Goonda" 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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2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, as well as the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents.

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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3. Though several points have been raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner, it is stated that the detention order is liable to be quashed on the ground that the detenu was not furnished with translated copy of the remand report in vernacular language. Hence, it is submitted that the detenu was deprived of making effective representation.

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4. On a perusal of the Booklet, it is seen that a copy of the remand report is in Tamil and its translated copy in vernacular language (English) has not been furnished to the detenu. This non-furnishing of the copy of the vital document would deprive the detenu of making effective representation to the authorities against the order of detention.

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5. In this context, it is useful to refer to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of 'Powanammal Vs. State of Tamil Nadu' reported in '(1999) 2 SCC 413'. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, after discussing the safeguards embodied in Article 22[5] of the Constitution, observed that the detenu should be afforded an opportunity of making representation effectively against the Detention Order and that, the failure

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to supply every material in the language which can be understood by the

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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detenu, is imperative. In the said context, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held in Paragraphs 9 and 16 {as in SCC journal} as follows:

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“9. However, this Court has maintained a distinction between a document which has been relied upon by the detaining authority in the grounds of detention and a document which finds a mere reference in the grounds of detention. Whereas the non-supply of a copy of the document relied upon in the grounds of detention has been held to be fatal to continued detention, the detenu need not show that any prejudice is caused to him. This is because the non-supply of such a document would amount to denial of the right of being communicated the grounds and of being afforded the opportunity of making an effective representation against the order. But it would not be so where the document merely finds a reference in the order of detention or among the grounds thereof. In such a case, the detenu's complaint of non-supply of document has to be supported by prejudice caused to him in making an effective representation. What applies to a document would equally apply to furnishing a translated copy of the document in the language known to and understood by the detenu, should the document be in a different language.

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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..... 16. For the above reasons, in our view, the non-supply of the Tamil version of the English document, on the facts and in the circumstances, renders her continued detention illegal. We, therefore, direct that the detenue be set free forthwith unless she is required to be detained in any other case. The appeal is accordingly allowed. ”

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6. In view of the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and

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in view of the aforesaid facts, this Court is of the view that the detention order is liable to be quashed.

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7 . Accordingly, the detention order passed by the second respondent on 09.12.2024 in C.No.97/G/IS/Tiruppur City/2024, is hereby set aside and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., Manikandan, aged about 35 years, S/o.Ramadas, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith,

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unless his confinement is required in connection with any other case.

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[M.S.R, J.] [N.S, J.] 10.03.2025

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Index: Yes/No Neutral Citation: Yes/No Sni

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H.C.P.No.116 of 2025

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M.S.RAMESH, J. and N. SENTHILKUMAR, J.