S. Nathiya v. State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by Secretary to Government, Chennai
2014-06-17
G.CHOCKALINGAM, V.DHANAPALAN
body2014
DigiLaw.ai
Judgment V. Dhanapalan, J. 1. The petitioner is the husband of detenu. The detenu has been branded as a Goonda under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 and detained under order of the 2nd respondent passed in BDFGISSV No. 734 of 2013, dated 19.08.2013. 2. The detenu came to adverse notice in the following cases:– S. No. Police Station and Crime No. Sections of Law 1. R-11, Royala Nagar Police Station, Crime No. 207 of 2013 Sections 341, 384 and 506(ii) IPC 2. R-11, Royala Nagar Police Station, Crime No. 328 of 2013 Section 384 IPC 3. R-11, Royala Nagar Police Station, Crime No. 489 of 2013 Sections 427 IPC r/w. 3 of TNPPDL Act 4. R-6, Kumaran Nagar Police Station, Crime No. 1575 of 2013 147, 148, 294(b), 324 and 307 IPC 5. R-11, Royala Nagar Police Station, Crime No. 499 of 2013 341, 294(b) and 307 IPC The ground case alleged against the detenu is one registered on 02.07.2013 by the Inspector of Police, R-11, Royala Nagar Police Station in Crime No. 506 of 2013 for the offences under Sections 341, 294(b), 336, 427, 392 and 506 (ii) IPC. Aggrieved by the order of detention, the present petition has been filed. 3. Amidst several grounds raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner to attack the impugned order of detention, he has mainly focussed his argument on the ground that the detaining authority failed to ask clarification from the sponsoring authority about non serving of arrest memo in respect of 5th adverse case to the family members, relatives or friends of the detenu and there is no proof to show that the intimation of arrest was given, which clearly shows non-application of mind on the part of detaining authority. 4. We have heard the learned Additional Public Prosecutor on the above submission. 5. A close reading of the booklet shows that though there is a mention about 5 adverse cases and one ground case in the impugned order of detention, no proof has been annexed in the booklet with regard to intimation of arrest of detenu effected in respect of Crime No. 499 of 2013, 5th adverse case to the family members, relatives or friends as mandated by the Constitution.
It is also to be remembered that in order to meet fairness, justness and reasonableness, after a person is taken in custody in pursuance of an order of detention, the members of his household, preferably the parent, the child or the spouse, must be informed in writing of the passing of the order of detention and of the fact that the detenu has been taken in custody, by duly intimating as to the place of detention, including the place where the detenu is transferred from time to time, which would ensure the right of the person arrested under preventive detention. If such intimation of arrest has not been made effectively, then, it would confer a right upon the arrestee to impugn the arrest effected on him. 6. In the case on hand, there is no proof to exhibit such intimation of arrest in 5th adverse case to the family members of the detenu. Thus, on account of the failure of the detaining authority in communicating the arrest of detenu to the family members, the detention order would be vitiated on the ground of deprivation of right guaranteed under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India. Thus, for the reasons stated herein-above, the impugned detention order cannot be sustained. 7. Accordingly, the impugned detention order passed by the 2nd respondent, detaining the detenu, namely, Suresh, S/o Mohan, made in BDFGISSV No. 734 of 2013, dated 19.08.2013, is quashed and the habeas corpus petition is allowed. The above named detenu, who is detained at the Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, is ordered to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his custody is required in connection with any other case.