VELA ALIAS VELANGANI ALIAS JOHNEY Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE writ petitions are filed by the detenus themselves under Art.226 of the Constitution of India for the issue of a writ of habeas corpus for quashing the orders of detention passed against them and to set the mat liberty.

(2.) THE order of detent on challenged in W.P.No. 2397of 1991 was passed by the second respondent on 21.11.1990. THE orders of detention challenged in W.P.Nos.6072 and 7091 of 1991 were passed by the second respondent on 4.1.1991. THE three orders challenged in these writ petitions were passed by the second respondent in exercise of powers conferred under Sec.3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act (XIV of 1982), hereinafter called the Act with a view to prevent the petitioners from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order and health. As the point raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner in all the three writ petitions is one and the same the writ petitions are disposed of by a common order.

(3.) FURTHER, in order to appreciate the contentions of the counsel for the parties, it is also necessary to refer to Sec.3 of the Act, which reads as follows: