Mrs. Venmathi
Selvam Vs. State of Tamil Nadu & Anr [1998] INSC 324 (10 June 1998)
G.T.
Nanavati, S.Saghir Ahmad Nanavati, J
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
Leave
granted.
Heard
learned counsel for the parties.
The
appellant is the wife of one Selvam who has been detained as a Goonda under
Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders,
Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act,
1982. The Commissioner of Police, Chennai City, on being satisfied that Selvam was
involved in activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order and with
a view to preventing him from acting in the said prejudicial manner it was
necessary to detain him, passed an order of detention on 23.8.97.
The
appellant challenged that order before the High Court of Judicature at Madras but her petition failed. She has,
therefore filed this appeal.
What
is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant is that there was
unreasonable delay on the part of the Government in considering the detenu's
representation and, therefore, his continued detention is illegal. The detenu
had made a representation on 7.10.97. The Governor's Secretariat received it on
14.10.97. It was despatched to the Government on 15.10.97. It called for
remarks of the detaining authority on 17.10.97. The detaining authority in his
turn called for remarks of the sponsoring authority on 21.10.97. The sponsoring
authority gave its remarks on 24.10.97 and they were forwarded by the
Commissioner was rejected by the Government on 10.11.97. The State Government
was required to explain how it dealt it dealt with the representation between
15.10.97 and 10.11.97. Except stating that it called for the remarks of the
detaining authority on 17.10.97 the Government has failed to explain why it had
become necessary for it to call for the remarks of the detaining authority.
Even after an opportunity was given by this Court on 12.5.98 to the respondents
to file a counter affidavit dealing with the contentions raised in the S.L.P
the Government has failed to file any counter and explain why it had called for
the remarks of the detaining authority and what was the reason for not taking
up for consideration the representation of the detenu from 21.10.97 till
10.11.97. Though the dely is not long it has remained unexplained. Though the dely
by itself is not fatal the delay which remains unexplained becomes
unreasonable. In spite of the this well-settled legal position the State
Government has failed to explain satisfactorily that it had dealt with the
representation to the detenu as promptly as possible. It appears that oblivious
of the correct legal position and its obligations in matters of preventive
detention it has dealt with the representation of the detenu in routine manner.
This indifference of the Government is the cause for rendering the continued
detention of the detenu illegal. We, therefore, allow this appeal, quash and
set aside the impugned order of detention and direct that the detenu be
released forth with unless his presence in jail is required in connection with
some other case.
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