( 1 ) THIS writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution challenges the order of detention passed under Section 3 of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities act, 1974 whereby the petitioner was detained for preventing him from carrying on smuggling activities set out in the grounds in support of the order of detention dated 29/4/1999.

( 2 ) ONE of the grounds on which the detention order is challenged is that the representation made by the wife of the detenu to the central government has not been disposed of till date. The receipt of the representation dated 7/6/1999 was denied on behalf of the central government. Consequently, this court passed the following order on 17/11/1999: "learned counsel for the petitioner prays for and is allowed one weeks time to file an additional affidavit annexing therewith the document indicating that the representation sent by the wife of the detenu to the secretary in the central government was duly received by the addressee (the secretary ). The respondents shall have a weeks time thereafter to file the replies. List after three weeks on a non-miscellaneous day. "

( 3 ) AN additional affidavit has been