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2014 DIGILAW 1691 (MAD)

Boobalan v. State of Tamil Nadu

2014-06-25

G.CHOCKALINGAM, V.DHANAPALAN

body2014
Judgment : V. Dhanapalan, J. 1. Detenu himself is the petitioner herein. The detenu has been branded as a "Goonda" as contemplated under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 and detained under order of the 2nd respondent passed in Memo No.1622/BDFGISSV/2013, dated 16.11.2013. 2. The detenu came to adverse notice in the following cases:- Sr.No. Police Station and Crime No. Sections of Law 1. H-5, New Washermenpet Police Station, Crime No.267 of 2012 399 IPC 2. H-5, New Washermenpet Police Station, Crime No.689 of 2013 302 IPC 3. H-5, New Washermenpet Police Station, Crime No.1201 of 2013 341, 384 and 506(ii) IPC 4. H-5, New Washermenpet Police Station, Crime No.1259 of 2013 294(b), 323, 307, 336, 427 and 506(ii) IPC The ground case alleged against the detenu is one registered on 04.11.2013 by the Inspector of Police, H-7Government Peripheral Hospital in-charge H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station, Law and Order, in Crime No.1296 of 2013 for the offences under Sections 341, 324, 323, 307, 336 and 506(ii) I.P.C. Aggrieved by the order of detention, the present petition has been filed. 3. Though learned counsel for the petitioner has raised several other grounds to assail the order of detention, he mainly focused his argument on the ground that when there is no bail application filed on behalf of the detenu, nor by the relatives of the detenu, there is no imminent possibility of him being released on bail and therefore, the impugned order has been passed without any supporting material. For the above reasons, the impugned order of detention is liable to be quashed. 4. We have heard the learned Additional Public Prosecutor on the above submission. 5. On a careful scrutiny of the impugned order, it is seen that the detaining authority, taking into account the imminent possibility of the detenu being enlarged on bail and the likelihood of the same is prejudicial to the public order, has passed the impugned detention order, wherein it has been mentioned as under in paragraph No.4 of the order: “4.I am aware that Thiru. Boobalan is in remand in H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Crime Nos.1201/2013, 1259/2013 and 1296/2013 and he has moved bail applications for H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Cr.Nos.1259/2013 and 1296/2013 before the Court of Principal Sessions, Chennai, in Crl.M.P.Nos.14922/2013 and 14921/2013 respectively and both the bail petitions are pending. Boobalan is in remand in H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Crime Nos.1201/2013, 1259/2013 and 1296/2013 and he has moved bail applications for H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Cr.Nos.1259/2013 and 1296/2013 before the Court of Principal Sessions, Chennai, in Crl.M.P.Nos.14922/2013 and 14921/2013 respectively and both the bail petitions are pending. He has not moved any bail application for H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Crime Nos.1201/2013. The sponsoring authority has stated that the relatives of Thiru.Boobalan are taking action to take him on bail in H-5 New Washermenpet Police Station Cr.No.1201/2013 by filing bail application before the appropriate Court. ..." A close reading of the entire booklet would show that the detaining authority has taken a decision to detain the detenu on the presumption that the relatives of the accused are taking steps to bail him out by filing application in respect of Crime No.1201/2013 (third adverse case), without any valid material in support thereof and passed the impugned order of detention in mechanical manner, which shows clear non-application of mind on the part of detaining authority in arriving at such conclusion. Thus, for the reasons stated herein-above, the impugned detention order cannot be sustained. 6. Accordingly, the impugned detention order passed by the 2nd respondent, detaining the detenu, namely, Boobalan, S/o. Selvakumar, made in Memo No.1622/BDFGISSV/2013, dated 16.11.2013 is quashed and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The above named detenu, who is detained in the Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, is ordered to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his custody is required in connection with any other case. 7. However, in view of serious offences involved in this matter, it is open to the prosecution to effectively contest the matter before the Regular Court, uninfluenced by the above order. It is also made clear that this order shall not confer any right or advantage whatsoever to the detenu to claim anything before the Regular Court.