Vana Rani v. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by M.S.RAMESH,J.) The petitioner is the mother of the detenu viz., Sibisurya, S/o.Palpandi, aged about 19 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in No.111/2022 dated 28.12.2022 holding him to be a "Sexual Offender", as contemplated under Section 2(ggg) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.

¶2We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

3.Though many grounds have been raised in the petition, the learned counsel for the petitioner focussed his argument on the ground that the detaining authority was swayed by the fact that a bail petition may be filed before the competent Court by the detenu or his relatives in future.

¶4The learned counel for the petitioner further submitted that the subjective satisfaction that has been arrived at by the detaining authority at Paragraph No.5 of the order is not supported by any materials. Therefore, the same also suffers from non application of mind.

¶5The learned counsel for the petitioner, in order to substantiate the submissions, relied upon the judgment of the Full Bench reported in 2005

(2) LW 946 [K.Thirupathi v. District Magistrate and District Collector, Tiruchirappalli District & another].

¶6Heard the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondents.

¶7Even though several grounds have been raised in the petition filed before this Court, this Court is inclined to consider the main ground that has been focussed by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

¶8It is further stated therein that the detenu had not filed any bail application till date, but, however, they have received a secret information that his relatives will file bail application before the competent Court very soon. Though the source of secret information may not be disclosed to the petitioner, the information as such ought to have been disclosed to the petitioner. The non supply of such a vital information may not be justifiable and hence, the detaining authority having arrived at the subjective satisfaction become questionable. At this point of time, it will be relevant to take note of the Full Bench judgment, which has been referred supra.

¶9The relevant portions are extracted hereunder: "24. The detaining authority is required to follow strictly and scrupulously the forms and rules of law prescribed in that behalf or by the statutory provision under which the order of detention is being made after arriving at a subjective satisfaction. In the event of any deviation or violation of the statutory provisions or infraction of constitutional guarantees, the Courts will not hesitate to quash the orders of detention. Whatever be the jurisdiction to detain and the slightest infraction of the constitutional guarantee would lead to the detenu being set at liberty.

¶25It is by now well settled that in all detention laws, the orders of detention and its continuance of detention should be in conformity with Article 22 of the Constitution of India and slightest infraction of the Constitutional protection enshrined therein would be a valid ground to set the detenu at liberty.

¶26There must be cogent material before the Authority passing the detention order for inferring that the detenu was likely to be released on bail. This inference must be drawn from material on record and must not be the ipse dixit of the Authority passing the detention order.

¶27In the case of a person in custody a detention order can validly be passed if the authority passing the order is aware of the fact that he is actually in custody; if he has reason to believe on the basis of reliable material placed before him--

(a) that there is a real possibility of his being released on bail, and

(b) if it is felt essential to detain him to prevent him from so doing. If the authority passes an order after recording its satisfaction in this behalf, such an order cannot be struck down on the ground that the proper course for the authority was to oppose the bail and if bail is granted notwithstanding such opposition to question it before a higher Court.

¶28It is neither possible nor advisable catalogue the types of materials which can form the basis of a detention order under the Act. That will depend on the facts and situation of a case. That is why there is no provision in the Act in that regard and the matter is left to the discretion of the detaining authority. However, the facts stated in the materials relied upon should be true and should have a reasonable nexus with the purpose for which the order is passed."

¶10It is clear from the above that where the detenu is in custody and he has not filed any bail petition and there are no materials to show that he is taking steps to file a bail petition by himself or through his relatives or it was based merely on the presumption made by the detaining authority, the same reflects non application of mind on the part of the detaining authority.

¶11In view of the above, the detention order suffers from non application of mind and the same is liable to be interfered with by this Court.

¶12In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in No.111/2022 dated 28.12.2022 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Sibisurya, S/o.Palpandi, aged about 19 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

(M.S.R.,J.) (M.N.K.,J.)

26.07.2023 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No PNM/RR To

1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Joint Secretary Public (Law and Order) Secretariat, Chennai.

3.The District Magistrate and District Collector, Theni District, Theni.

4.The Superintendent of Police, Theni District, Theni.

5.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.

6.The Inspector of Police, Cumbum North Police Station, Theni District.

7.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

M.S.RAMESH,J. and M.NIRMAL KUMAR,J. PNM/RR

H.C.P.(MD)No.102 of 2023

26.07.2023

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 26.07.2023 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR H.C.P.(MD)No.102 of 2023 Vana Rani .. Petitioner / Mother of Detenu Vs. 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The District Magistrate and District Collector, Theni District, Theni. 3.The Superintendent of Police, Theni District, Theni. 4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai. 5.The Inspector of Police, Cumbum North Police Station, Theni District. .. Respondents 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 order of detention passed by the second respondent vide his proceedings in Detention Order No.111/2022, dated 28.12.2022 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents herein to produce the petitioner's son Sibisurya, S/o.Palpandi (Male, aged 19 years), detained at Central Prison, Madurai and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Balaji For Respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar Additional Public Prosecutor