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Sumathy v. State Of Tamil Nadu And Ors

Sumathy v. State Of Tamil Nadu And Ors

(High Court Of Judicature At Madras)

H.C.P.No.2310 of 2022 | 24-04-2023

M. Sundar, J.

1. Captioned 'Habeas Corpus Petition' ['HCP' for the sake of brevity] has been filed by wife of the detenu assailing a 'preventive detention order dated 20.09.2022 bearing reference BCDFGISSSV No. 148/2022' [hereinafter 'impugned detention order' for the sake of convenience and brevity]. To be noted, fourth respondent is the sponsoring authority and second respondent is the detaining authority as impugned detention order has been made by second respondent.

2. Impugned detention order has been made 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 No. 14 of 1982)' [hereinafter 'Act 14 of 1982' for the sake of convenience and clarity] on the premise that the detenu is a 'Drug Offender' within the meaning of Section 2(e) of Act 14 of 1982.

3. There is an adverse case. The ground case which is the sole substratum of the impugned detention order is Crime No. 160 of 2022 on the file of T-17 Perumbakkam Police Station for alleged offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Owing to the nature of the challenge to the impugned detention order, it is not necessary to delve into the factual matrix or be detained further by facts.

4. Mr.S.Vellidoss, learned counsel representing counsel on record for petitioner and Mr.E.Raj Thilak, learned State Additional Public Prosecutor for all respondents are before us.

5. Learned counsel for petitioner submits that 'live and proximate link' between the grounds of detention and purpose of detention has snapped as date of remand in the ground case is 28.07.2022 but the impugned detention order has been made only on 20.09.2022.

6. Mr.E.Raj Thilak, learned State Additional Public Prosecutor, submits to the contrary by saying that materials had to be collected and time was consumed for the same. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and nature of ground case, we find that this explanation of learned State Additional Public Prosecutor is unacceptable.

7. We remind ourselves of Sushanta Kumar Banik's case [Sushanta Kumar Banik Vs. State of Tripura & others reported in 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 813]. To be noted, Banik case law arose under 'Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988' [hereinafter 'PIT NDPS Act' for the sake of brevity] in Tirupura, wherein after considering the proposal by the Sponsoring Authority and after noticing the trajectory the matter took, Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the 'live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping' point should be examined on a case to case basis. Hon'ble Supreme Court has held in Banik case law that this point has two facts. One facet is 'unreasonable delay' and other facet is 'unexplained delay'. We find that the captioned matter falls under latter facet i.e., unexplained delay.

8. To be noted, Banik case has been respectfully followed by this Court in Gomathi Vs. The Principal Secretary to Government and others reported vide Neutral Citation of Madras High Court being 2023/MHC/334, Sadik Basha Yusuf Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu and others reported vide Neutral Citation of Madras High Court being 2023/MHC/733, Sangeetha Vs. The Secretary to the Government and others reported vide Neutral Citation of Madras High Court being 2023:MHC:1110, N.Anitha Vs. The Secretary to Government and others reported vide Neutral Citation of Madras High Court being 2023:MHC:1159 and a series of other orders in HCP cases.

9. Before concluding, we also remind ourselves that preventive detention is not a punishment and HCP is a high prerogative writ.

10. Apropos, the sequitur is, captioned HCP is allowed. Impugned detention order dated 20.09.2022 bearing reference BCDFGISSSV No. 148/2022 made by the second respondent is set aside and the detenu Thiru. Sundarraj @ Sundar, male, aged 26 years, Son of Thiru. Tamilkumar, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in connection with any other case/cases. There shall be no order as to costs.

Advocate List

  • Mr. S.Vellidoss for Mr.S.Saranraj

  • Mr. E.Raj Thilak

Bench
  • HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.SUNDAR
  • HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NIRMAL KUMAR
Eq Citations
  • LQ
  • LQ/MadHC/2023/1848
Head Note

A. Constitution of India — Arts. 226/32 — Habeas Corpus Petition — Preventive detention — Deprivation of personal liberty — 'Live and proximate link' between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — 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 (TN Act No. 14 of 1982) — Live and proximate link between grounds of detention and purpose of detention snapping — Unexplained delay — Detention order set aside — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Ss. 8(c), 20(b) (ii) (B) — Treason, Sedition and Allied Offences — Preventive Detention — Preventive Detention Acts — Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers