SEKAR Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner by name Sekar has filed this Petition for production of 21 named persons therein before this Court, who, according to him, were illegally detained by respondents-6 and 7 and to set them at liberty.

(2.) PURSUANT to the direction of this Court, all the persons/detenus referred in the petition were produced before this Court on 29. 11. 200 5 and after enquiry, all of them were set free. Taking note of their poverty, illiteracy and age, this Court directed the District Collector, Salem, to provide necessary help such as shelter, food and employment at least for a period of three months. The District Collector was also directed to prepare/frame a Scheme for rehabilitation of those persons. It is not in dispute that after release, all the persons were temporarily provided with food and shelter.

(3.) IN the said order, we also directed for issuance of notice to respondents-6 and 7. Pursuant to the same, the 6th respondent has filed a counter affidavit (also on behalf of R-7), highlighting that the number of persons referred to in the petition viz. , 21, is not correct and, in fact, only 14 were taken to his place that too by payment of regular wages. He also denied various averments made in the affidavit filed in support of the above petition. It is further stated that the petitioner, who filed the above habeas Corpus Petition on behalf of others, owns a tractor worth Rs. 3,75,000/-and a Scooter costing more than Rs. 15,000/ -. It is also stated that the 14 persons taken by him were paid wages at the rate of Rs. 80/- per day.