Thangam 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., Siranjeevi, S/o.Senthilkumar, aged about 20 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by order in H.S(M).Confdl.No.197/2022 dated

08.09.2022 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.

¶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.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the detaining authority has arrived at a subjective satisfaction that the detenu is taking steps to file a bail application. However, in the materials supplied along with the order of detention, there is no material available to show that as to how the detaining authority has arrived at the subjective satisfaction that the detenu is taking steps to file a bail application. Hence, the detention order needs interference.

¶4The learned Additional Public Prosecutor strongly opposed the Habeas Corpus Petition by filing counter.

¶5On carefully going through the detention order, it is seen that the detaining authority has stated that he is aware that the detenu tried to file bail petition before the appropriate Court in the ground case registered in Crime No.466 of 2022 on the file of the Kovilpatti West Police Station. However, there is no tangent material supplied to the petitioner herein to substantiate the manner in which the detaining authority had come to subjective satisfaction that he was aware that the detenu has earlier tried to filed bail application. Hence, on this sole ground, the detention order is liable to be quashed.

¶6In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in H.S(M).Confdl.No.197/2022 dated 08.09.2022 passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Siranjeevi, S/o.Senthilkumar, aged about 20 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.)

11.07.2023 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order mbi To

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

2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.

3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli.

4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai. H.C.P(MD)No.1684oofo2022 M.S.RAMESH,oJ. and M.NIRMALoKUMAR,oJ. mbi H.C.P(MD)No.1684oofo2022

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.07.2023 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH AND THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR Thangam .. Petitioner vs. 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District. 3.The Superintendent, Central Prison, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli. ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of habeas corpus calling for the records in pursuant to the proceedings of the second respondent in Detention Order in H.S(M).Confdl.No.197/2022 dated 08.09.2022, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to produce the petitioner's son namely Siranjeevi, S/o.Senthilkumar, aged about 20 years, who is now detained in Central Prison, Palayamkottai before this Court and set him at liberty. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Prabu For respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadi Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor