Vatsalyapuram Jain Welfare Society Through Its Authorized Signatory Ms. Suman w/o Late Gajendra Kumar vs State Of Madhya Pradesh

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2024 Supreme(MP) 47

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT INDORE
SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, DEVNARAYAN MISHRA, JJ.
Vatsalyapuram Jain Welfare Society Through Its Authorized Signatory Ms. Suman w/o Late Gajendra Kumar – Appellant
Versus
The State Of Madhya Pradesh – Respondent
Writ Petition No. 1220 of 2024
Decided on : 18-01-2024

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : SHRI VIBHOR KHANDELWAL
For the Respondent: SHRI GAURAV CHHABRA, SHRI ROSHAN VERMA, MS. ARCHANA KHER, ADDITIONAL A.G., SHRI ADITYA VAIBHAV JHA, SHRI BHAKTI VYAS, adv

Headnote:
(1) Constitution of India – Arts. 226, 32 and 21 – writ of habeas corpus – writ of habeas corpus under Art. 32 in Supreme Court is available in case of violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Art. 21 but it does not relate to interference in personal liberty by private citizen – High Court has jurisdiction to issue writ of habeas corpus under Art. 226 not only for violation of fundamental right of freedom but also for other purposes – High Court can issue such writ against private person also. Halsbury’s Laws of England, A. V. Dicey’s Introduction to the Study of Law of the Constitution and [1942] AC 284 relied on. (1978) 1 SCC 248 and (1973) 2 SCC 674 followed. [Para 15]
(2) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- writ of habeas corpus -- Court has to see whether detention is legal on date on which application is made to Court, if nothing more has intervened between date of application and date of hearing. [Para 17]
(3) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 -- object and reasons -- JJ Act is selfcontained -- it is designed to further ends of justice, not to frustrate them by introduction of endless technicalities -- language of Act is conclusive and must be construed according to ordinary principles, so as to give effect to plain meaning of language used -- in case of ambiguity, that meaning must be preferred which is more in accord with justice and convenience. [Para 18]
(4) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 -- S.37 -- Magistrate or Child Welfare Committee directing girl to be kept in protective home should give credence to her wish. [Paras 25 & 37]
(5) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 -- S. 27 -- writ of habeas corpus -- judicial order passed by Magistrate or by Child Welfare Committee u/s. 27 of JJ Act sending victims to Juvenile Home/Nari Niketan/Child Care Home -- not a case of illegal detention -- if there is lack of following due procedure under Act and Rules by Magistrate or Committee, that can be agitated by petitioner in appeal/revision. (1973) 2 SCC 674, (2013) 1 SCC 314 and AIR (1951) SC 217 followed. [Paras 30, 36 & 37]
(6) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 -- Ss. 27 and 36 -- writ of habeas corpus -- petition filed at very threshold of enquiry being conducted by Child Welfare Committee under JJ Act -- enquiry pending and final orders yet to be passed -- proceedings cannot be termed illegal or against provisions of law. [Para 35]
(7) Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 -- S. 27 -- writ of habeas corpus -- maintainability -- writ of habeas corpus not maintainable if detention in custody is pursuant to judicial orders passed by Judicial Magistrate or Court of competent jurisdiction or Child Welfare Committee. [Paras 36 & 37]
¼1½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226] 32 rFkk 21 & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV & vuqPNsn 32 ds v/khu mPpre U;k;ky; esa canh çR;{khdj.k fjV vuqPNsn 21 ds v/khu çR;kHkwr ewy vf/kdkjksa ds vfrØe.k dh n'kk esa miyC/k gksrh gS ijarq og futh ukxfjd }kjk O;fäxr Lokra=; esa gLr{ksi ds laca/k esa ugha gksrh & mPp U;k;ky; dks vuqPNsn 226 ds v/khu canh çR;{khdj.k fjV Lokra=; ds ewy vf/kdkj ds vfrØe.k ds fy, gh ugha vfirq vU; ç;kstuksa ds fy, Hkh tkjh djus dh vf/kdkfjrk gS & mPp U;k;ky; ;g fjV futh O;fä ds fo:) Hkh tkjh dj ldrk gSA gSYlcjh —r y‚t v‚Q baXySM] ,ŒohŒ Mkblh —r baVªksMD'ku Vw n LVMh v‚Q y‚ v‚Q n d‚UlfVVîw'ku rFkk 1942] ,lh 284 voyafcrA ¼1978½ 1 ,llhlh 248 rFkk ¼1973½ 2 ,llhlh 674 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 15½
¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226 & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV & U;k;ky; dks ns[kuk gksrk gS fd fujks/k ml fnukad dks oS/k rks ugha Fkk ftl fnukad dks U;k;ky; dks vkosnu fd;k x;k] ;fn vkosnu ds fnukad vkSj lquokbZ ds fnukad ds e/; dqN vkSj ugha gqvk gksrkA ¼iSjk 17½
¼3½ fd'kksj U;k; ¼ckydksa dh ns[kjs[k vkSj laj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e] 2015 & mn~ns'; rFkk dkj.k & fd'kksj U;k; vf/kfu;e Lo;aiw.kZ gS & mldh vfHkdYiuk U;k; fgr vxzlj djus ds fy, dh xbZ gS] vuar rduhdh ckjhfd;‚a Mky dj U;k; fgr fu"Qy djus ds fy, ugha & vf/kfu;e dh Hkk"kk fu'pk;d gS rFkk mldk vFkkZUo;u lkekU; fl)karksa ds vuqlkj fd;k tkuk vko';d gS] rkfd mi;ksx dh xbZ Hkk"kk ds lknk vFkZ dks çHkkoh fd;k tk, & lafnX/kkFkZdrk dh n'kk esa- ml vFkZ dks ojh;rk nh tkuk vko';d gS tks U;k; vkSj lqfo/kk ds vf/kd vuqdwy gSA ¼iSjk 18½
¼4½ fd'kksj U;k; ¼ckydksa dh ns[kjs[k vkSj laj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e] 2015 & /kkjk 37 & ckfydk dks laj{k.kky; esa j[kus dk funs'k nsus okys eftLVªsV ;k cky dY;k.k lfefr dks mldh bPNk ij Hkjkslk djuk pkfg,A ¼iSjk 25 ,oa 37½
¼5½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226 & fd'kksj U;k; ¼ckydksa dh ns[kjs[k vkSj laj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e] 2015 & /kkjk 27 & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV & eftLVªsV ;k cky dY;k.k lfefr }kjk fd'kksj U;k; vf/kfu;e ds v/khu ikfjr ihfM+rksa dks fd'kksj x`g@ukjh fudsru@ckyd ns[kjs[k x`g Hkstus dk U;kf;d vkns'k & voSèk fujks/k dk ekeyk ugha & ;fn eftLVªsV ;k lfefr }kjk vf/kfu;e rFkk fu;eksa ds v/khu lE;d~ çfØ;k dk vuqlj.k fd, tkus dk vHkko gS rks ;kph vihy iqujh{k.k esa mls fookfnr dj ldrk gSA ¼1973½ 2 ,llhlh 674] ¼2013½ 1 ,llhlh 314 rFkk ,vkbvkj ¼1951½ ,llh 217 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 30] 36 ,oa 37½
¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226 & fd'kksj U;k; ¼ckydksa dh ns[kjs[k vkSj laj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e] 2015 & /kkjk 27 rFkk 36 & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV & ;kfpdk cky dY;k.k lfefr }kjk fd'kksj U;k; vf/kfu;e ds v/khu dh tk jgh t‚ap ds çkjafHkd çØe ij gh çLrqr & tk¡p yafcr rFkk vafre vkns'k vHkh ikfjr fd, tkus gSa & dk;Zokfg;ksa dks voS/k vFkok fof/k ds mica/kksa ds fo:) ugha dgk tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 35½
¼7½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 226 & fd'kksj U;k; ¼ckydksa dh ns[kjs[k vkSj laj{k.k½ vf/kfu;e- 2015 & /kkjk 27 & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV & pyus ;ksX; gksuk & canh çR;{khdj.k fjV pyus ;ksX; ugha ;fn vfHkj{kk esa fujks/k U;kf;d eftLVªsV ;k l{ke vf/kdkfjrk okys U;k;ky; ;k cky dY;k.k lfefr }kjk ikfjr U;kf;d vkns'kksa ds vuqlj.k esa gSA ¼iSjk 36 ,oa 37½

ORDER :

Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, J.

Heard finally with the consent of both the parties.

In this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner is aggrieved by the inaction of the respondents whereby they have illegally kidnapped 21 minor girl children from the lawful custody of the petitioner and have further detained them illegally.

2. The brief facts of the case are that, the petitioner is a Society registered under the provisions of the Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958 (hereinafter referred to as “Act of 1958”) and is managing and administering about 13 hostels across India. One hostel is situated in Indore in the name of “Vatsalyapuram Jain Hostel”.

3. The petitioner had admitted 21 minor girl children in the hostel on the instructions and authority given by their parents/legal guardians. The admission is given to those students who were either belonging to economically weaker section or financially poor families, after obtaining written consent, authority and permission from their parents/legal guardian. Apart from providing accommodation to the students, it also supports their school education, food, medicines and other healthcare.

4. It is alleged that the respondent No.4 and 5 have illegally entered the hostel owned, managed and administered by the petitioner on 12.01.2024 and have wrongfully taken physical custody of 21 minor girl children that too after sunset.

5. Being aggrieved with the action of the respondents whereby, the respondents have illegally kidnapped 21 minor girl children from the lawful custody of the petitioner and have further detained them illegally. The writ petition has been preferred before this Hon'ble Court on behalf of the petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India

6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the Respondent Nos. 4 and 5 without issuing any notice entered the premises of the petitioner and took away/seized all the documents and records maintained even without preparing any panchnama. The illegal action taken by the respondents has been recorded in the CCTV camera installed at the petitioner's hostel. All the 21 minor girls have been lodged at the Government Rajkiya Bal Ashram, Indore and Jeevan Jyoti Balika Grah, Indore. The action of the respondents is in violation of various provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as “J.J. Act”).

7. Learned counsel for the petitioner further contended that the due procedure as per the relevant provisions of J. J. Act has not been followed. The respondents without recording the childs' version has kept the minor girls in illegal detention.

8. Per contra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent/State vehemently opposed the prayer and submitted that the basic issues which require consideration in this petition are that:-

"(1) Whether a writ of habeas corpus is maintainable against the judicial order passed by the Child Welfare Committee appointed under Section 27 of the Act, sending the minor girls to Women Protection Home/Nari Niketan/Juvenile Home/Child Care Home?; (2) Whether detention of minor girls in Women Protection Home/Nari Niketan/Juvenile Home/Child Care Home pursuant to an order (may be improper) can be termed/viewed as an illegal detention?; and

(3) Under the Scheme of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the welfare and safety of children in need of care and protection is the legal responsibility of the Board/Child Welfare Committee and as such, the proposition that even a minor cannot be sent to Women Protection Home/Nari Niketan/Juvenile Home/Child Care Home against his/her wishes, is legally valid or it requires a modified approach in consonance with the object of the Act ?"

9. Learned counsel for the respondent further contended that it is not a case of illegal detention, the petition would itself not be maintainable or otherwise may proceed to hear the matter on merits, if occ