Inordinate delay in passing a preventive detention order invalidates the order due to severed live and proximate link between grounds and purpose of detention.

ORDER :

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

The preventive detention order passed by the second respondent dated 11.06.2024 is sought to be quashed in the present habeas corpus petition.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, as well as the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents.

3. Though several grounds are raised in the petition, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there is an inordinate delay in passing the order of detention.

4. In the instant case, the detenu was arrested on 30.04.2024 and thereafter, the detention order came to be passed on 11.06.2024. This fact is not disputed by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor.

5. The detenue has filed a sworn affidavit before this Court. Para. 3 and 4 of the affidavit reads as under:

"3. .....I am a law abiding citizen and I always abide by the law, I further I undertake that once I am unconfined from the present incarceration, I will not in any manner get myself involved in any strained situation nor create any disturbance to the public. I further undertake that, I will amendment my behaviors, will act in a dignified manner and will maintain a good conduct in the society. I further promise that I will lead a life as a responsible person and I am committed to making positive changes. I want to be a better person for myself, for my family and to the society.

4. .....I like to acquire new skills and want to contribute positively to society upon my release. I want to reintegrate into society as a batter, responsible and law-abiding citizen. This includes seeking employment, maintaining healthy relationships, and contributing positively. I promise that over time, my actions will demonstrate my sincerity in keeping up the above promises."

6. In the case of 'Sushanta Kumar Banik Vs. State of Tripura', reported in 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 813', when there was an inordinate delay from the date of proposal till passing of the detention order and likewise, between the date of detention order and the actual arrest, the Hon'ble Supreme Court had held that the live and proximate link, between the grounds and the purpose of detention, stands snapped in arresting the detenu. The relevant observation of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is extracted hereunder:-

“20. It is manifestly clear from a conspectus of the above decisions of this Court, that the underlying principle is that if there is unreasonable delay between the date of the order of detention & actual arrest of the detenu and in the same manner from the date of the proposal and passing of the order of detention, such delay unless satisfactorily explained throws a considerable doubt on the genuineness of the requisite subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority in passing the detention order and consequently render the detention order bad and invalid because the “live and proximate link” between the grounds of detention and the purpose of detention is snapped in arresting the detenu. A question whether the delay is unreasonable and stands unexplained depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.”

7. Drawing inspiration from the judgment in Sushanta Kumar Banik's case, a co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of 'Gomathi Vs. Principal Secretary to Government and Others', reported in 2023 SCC OnLine Mad 6332', had held that when there is an inordinate delay from the date of arrest/date of proposal till the order of detention, the live and proximate link between them would also stand snapped and thereby, had quashed the detention order on this ground.

8. In yet another case i.e., in 'Nagaraj Vs. State of Tamil Nadu', reported in '(2018) 3 MWN (Cri) 428', this Court had held that the delay of 36 days in passing the detention order after the arrest of the detenu would snap the live and proximate link between the grounds and purpose of detention. Hence, in view of the unexplained and inordinate delay in passing the order of detention, after the arrest of the detenu, the