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2003 Supreme(J&K) 155

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT SRINAGAR
Syed Bashir-ud-Din, J.
Alam Bhat - Appellant
Versus
State Of J&K & Ors. - Respondent
HCP No. 96/2002
Decided On : 24 May, 2003

Advocates Appeared:
Advocate For Appellant: M.A. Qayoom
Advocate For Respondent: M.M. Khan

The central legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for fresh facts for subsequent detention orders, the communication of grounds of detention, and the timely disposal of representations to uphold the constitutional rights of the detenue.

Headnote:

Habeas Corpus - Detention under J&K Public Safety Act, 1978 - Section 8 - Summary of Acts and Sections: J&K Public Safety Act, 1978, Section 8 - The court discussed the grounds of detention, communication of the order and grounds to the detenue, and the failure to consider the detenue's representation. The court referenced legal provisions from V.C. Mohan v. Union of India, Chotka Hembran v. State of West Bengal, Kshetra Gogoi v. State of Assam, Sophia Ghulam Mohd. Bham v. State of Maharashtra, Naser Ahmad Sheikh v. Addl. Chief Secretary Home, and K.D. Sheikh v. District Magistrate Ahmadabad to emphasize the requirement of fresh facts for subsequent detention orders, communication of grounds of detention, and timely disposal of representations.

Fact of the Case:

The detenue filed for a Writ of Habeas Corpus challenging his detention under the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978. The court discussed the repetition of grounds for detention, non-communication of the order and grounds to the detenue, and the failure to consider the detenue's representation.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the second detention order was based on the same grounds as the first order, violating the requirement for fresh facts for subsequent detention orders. The detenue was not provided with the order and grounds, and his representation was not considered, violating his constitutional rights.

Issues: Repetition of grounds for detention, non-communication of the order and grounds to the detenue, failure to consider the detenue's representation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for fresh facts for subsequent detention orders, the communication of grounds of detention, and the timely disposal of representations, citing relevant legal provisions.

Final Decision: The court quashed the impugned second detention order and directed the release of the detenue from preventive custody, emphasizing the violation of the detenue's constitutional rights.

1. The subject, detenue has prayed for Writ of Habeas Corpus in respect of his detention by the state Government. He is detained under order No. DMS/PSA/52 dated 18.1.2002 passed by District Magistrate Srinagar under section 8 of the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978. It is alleged that earlier to this order he was detained under Order No: DMS/PSA/98 dated 25.1.2001, by the very detaining officer Respondent No.2 on grounds stated thereto. However, the order as also the detention was quashed by this court in HCP No. 27/2001 vide its decision dated 13.11.2001. Yet the detenu was not released and instead the impugned detention order was again passed on the very grounds on which first detention was quashed by the court. Neither the impugned detention order nor the grounds, nor material referred in the order was supplied to detenue. The detenue has been prejudiced to make representation against the detention order. The detenue received covering letter (Annexure-D) informing him of being detained and that he could make representation to the Government, Though neither the order nor the grounds nor the material was furnished to him, yet he moved representation (Annexure-G) addressed to Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department bearing the official receipt from Home Department. The representation was not considered. He was not even informed as to what happened to his representation. Petitioner™s counsel has made submission broadly only on the above three aspects of the case namely i) passing of yet another detention order on the very grounds adjudicated upon by the court earlier while holding the first detention order vitiated; ii) non communication of the order and grounds and iii) failure to consider the representation.

2. Despite the respondents being represented by the Govt. Advocates and Addl. Adv. General, counter has not been filed for last over one year, notwithstanding, about a dozen opportunities have been taken to file the counter. It has been in this context that the case has come on board for hearing.

3. Mr. M.M. Khan, AAG, too is heard. He has produced detention file and same is available with record.

4. The admitted facts on record are that the detenu has been detained first time under D.M. Srinagar Detention order dated 25.1.2001 (Annexure-A). This order and the detention was challenged in HC Petition No.27/2001. The writ court on 13.11.2001 quashed the order and the detention was direction to release the detenue unless required in any other case. However, the detenue was not released. Then the second order was passed by D.M. Srinagar on 18.2.2002 (Annexure B). This order is under challenge in this petition. The detenue has not been released hereto, notwithstanding the quashment of first detention order.

5. Perusal of the grounds of detention of the first detention and the second detention available on record fairly show that out of seven paras comprising the grounds of detention of the first detention order, quashed by the court, at least five paras have been reproduced and used as grounds of detention for the second detention order without any fresh material after passing of the first detention order. The grounds given in the first detention order are ditto reproduced in the grounds of detention of impugned second order. The allegation that the second impugned detention order is passed on selfsame grounds as in the first detention order is manifestly more than made out on record. No counter or allegations to deny all this is on record. The record fully supports the submissions on this count. Whether this aspect of the case was placed before detaining authority, there is no material on record. However, contextually, in V.C. Mohan V. Union of India (AIR 2002 SC 1205), it is firmly reiterated:-

".... We wish to state that no placement of relevant materials before the detaining authority by the sponsoring authority is not only a lapse but a serious lapse on the part of the officials resulting in the order of detention to be





















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