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2012 Supreme(Ker) 264

High Court of Kerala
K.M. JOSEPH & M.L. JOSEPH FRANCIS
Pradeep Kumar
Versus
Union of India
W.P.(CRL) NO. 33 OF 2012
Decided On : 21-03-2012

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Renjith B. Marar, Advocate.
For the Respondent:P. Parameswaran Nair, Advocate.

Headnote:Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007, Section 3 -The detaining authority granted bail to the detinue without application of mind- Hence the order of detention is vitiated for non application of mind- Quashed.

Judgment :

K. M. Joseph, J.

1. Petitioner is the father of Swaroop (hereinafter referred to as the detenu). The petitioner's son stands detained under the provisions of the Kerala Anti - Social Activities (Prevention) Act (for short, 'the Act'). The detenu has been detained on the basis that he is a known - rowdy, vide Ext. P9 order. Ext. P9 is dated 27-09-2011. Pursuant to the order, the petitioner came to be arrested on 20-11-2011 (the date of detention, according to the learned ADGP is 21-11-2011). The order is approved vide Ext. P10 dated 02-12-2011.

2. We heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Director General of Prosecutions. There is also representation on the part of Assistant Solicitor General.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would address the following arguments before us : He would submit that 44th Amendment Bill to the Constitution of India was passed way back in 1978. It received the assent of the President shortly thereafter. No doubt, the Bill contemplated that Executive must bring the Bill into force from a particular date. Despite the passage of more than three decades, it is complained that on account of the inaction of the Executive, the law remains merely on paper. According to him, if the 44th Amendment is considered, the detention of the detenu is palpably illegal. It is for the reason that under the 44th Amendment, the composition of the Advisory Board is such that it is totally inconsistent with the constitution of the Advisory Board as at present. He would refer us to the judgment in A.K. Roy Vs. Union of India, (1982) 1 SCC 271 besides the judgment of the Apex Court in Attorney General of India Vs. Amratlal Prajivandas, 1994 (2) KLT SN 7 (C.No. 9). Even though we have granted time to the Union of India to file a counter - affidavit, no counter - affidavit as such is filed.

4. The next point which is urged before us by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that having regard to Entry 3 of List III of VIIth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the State of Kerala did not possess the legislative competence to enact the Act. Next, he would contend that the grounds of detention were not served on the detenu, as required under law. Still further, he would contend that the right available to the detenue to make a representation to the Government and the Advisory Board was not made known to him in writing, as required under Sec. 7(2) of the Act. Then, he would submit that the order is bad for the reason that there is non -application of mind to the conditions in the bail orders granting bail to the detenu. He would in fact, contend that the bail orders were not placed by the sponsoring authority before the detaining authority. He also complained that before the Advisory Board, there was violation of natural justice.

5. Learned Additional DGP in reply would submit that the grounds of detention were indeed served, and the detenu has acknowledged the same. So also, he would point out that in the grounds of detention, the detenu was alerted of his right to make a representation, both to the Government and to the Advisory Board. According to him, the Kerala legislature had legislative competence. As far as the denial of natural justice before the Advisory Board is concerned as contended, it is not contemplated under law, he submits. As far as the question relating to non -application of mind by the detaining authority to the bail order, he would submit that there is application of mind and we will deal with his arguments at greater length when we take up the said issue later on, in the judgment.

6. We are of the view that the petitioner is entitled to succeed on the ground that there is non - application of mind by the detaining authority to the bail conditions as also for the reason that there was failure on the part of the sponsoring authority in placing the bail conditions and hence, we need not go into the other issues which have been raised.

7. It is salutary and e






















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