SECRETARY TO GOVT Vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE GREATER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who is the mother of the detenu, Selvam, son of Raju, who has been incarcerated by order of detention dated 25.6.2007 of the second respondent in proceedings No.262/2007 passed under Sec.3 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982) branding him as a Goonda, has preferred this writ petition for issue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records relating to the detention order in proceedings No.262/2007 dated 25.6.2007, to set aside the same and to direct the respondents to produce him before this Court and set at liberty.

(2.) The order of detention dated 25.6.2007 was passed on the basis of ground case in Crime No.2067 of 2007 on the file of S-11, Tambaram Police Station, for alleged commission of offences under Sections 341, 392, 336 and 506 (ii) of I. P. C. The allegation against the detenu was that on 30.5.2007 at about 19.00 hours, when one Santhanam was proceeding at Mudichur Road and Krishna Nagar junction to attend his work, the detenu and his associate Sridhar @ Karthik wrongfully restrained Santhanam at the point of knife and asked him what was in his pocket. The detenu voluntarily inserted his hand into the shirt pocket of Santhanam and took away Rs.200/- and also snatched the wrist watch of Santhanam. Noticing that the detenu and his associate were escaping, Santhanam raised hue and cry. The public nearby tried to apprehend them on the spot, but the detenu and his associate picked up brick stones and threw the same against them. The stones fell down on the road, broken into pieces and the pieces scattered all over the road. The public ran to safer places out of fear of danger to their lives and properties, and thus the detenu and his associate created terror and panic at the spot. In the melee, the detenu and his associate tried to escape from the spot. However, with the help of public, the detenu and his associate were apprehended at the spot by the complainant.

(3.) The second respondent, taking note of the above case as a ground case and finding that there are three adverse cases pending against the detenu in Crime No.2033, 2056 and 2059 of 2007 on the file of Tambaram Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 379 and 392 IPC and having satisfied that there is a compelling necessity to detain him in order to prevent him from indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order, ordered his detention dubbing him as a Goonda.