Judgment · High Court · 1996

Mr. S.P Dave, learned AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3 Mr. S.C Patel, learned Counsel for Respondent No.4. (cid:9) CORAM : J.M PANCHAL, J. (cid:9)11-03-1996 ORAL JUDGEMENT (cid:9)The order of detention dated December 5, 1995 passed by the District Magistrate, Rajkot in exercise of powers conferred on him by sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Prevention of (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) (cid:9) Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 ("The Act" for short) against the petitioner is the subject matter of challenge in the present petition, which is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution.

2.(cid:9)The grounds of detention indicate that the petitioner is proprietor of Shakti Oil Industries, situated at Village Jamnawad, Taluka-Dhoraji, District-Rajkot and is holding licence to deal in essential commodities viz., Groundnut Oil on wholesale basis as well as to produce the same. The petitioner is purchasing edible oil from different vendors and after tanning the same is selling in the open market. On October, 12, 1995, the Supply Officer, Rajkot carried out inspection of the premises were industry belonging to the detenu is being run. Certain bills were found which indicated that Shrinath Industries, Shahpur had sold ground nut oil to the petitioner. During the course of investigation, it transpired that Shrinath Industries did not exist at all. Again on November 21, 1995 inspection of the industry belonging to the detenu was carried out. This time, excess stock of 430 kg. edible oil was found. Sample was also drawn and sent for analysis to the Regional Food Laboratory, Rajkot. The report dated November 29, 1995 issued by the Laboratory indicated that the sample was adulterated. On the basis of materials placed before it, the Detaining Authority was satisfied that the detenu was acting in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supply of ground nut oil, which is a commodity essential to the community. The Detaining Authority, therefore, with a view to preventing the detenu from acting in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supply of commodity essential to the community, passed the impugned order of detention.

3.(cid:9)It is not in dispute that procedural requirements as enjoined by the Act and Art. 22(5) of the Constitution have been complied with by the Detaining Authority, Advisory Board and the State Government.

4.(cid:9)Several contentions have been urged by the learned counsel for the petitioner while assailing the validity of order of detention. However, it is not necessary to refer to all of them except one, which in my opinion merits acceptance. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that advocate for the detenu had prepared a representation dated December 13, 1995 and the representation together with seven additional copies. was sent to the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat to enable him to forward the same for consideration of the competent authorities and as there is failure on the part of Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat to forward one of the copies of representation to the Central Jail for its consideration, the continued detention of the detenu should be held to be illegal. This ground of challenge is raised in para 3 (o) of the petition.

5.(cid:9)Though Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat; who is impleaded as Respondent No. 3, is duly served, he has not filed any Affidavit-in-reply controverting the statements made in the petition.

6.(cid:9)Mr. K.C Vaghela, Under Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Food & Civil Supplies Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar has filed Affidavit-in-reply on behalf of Respondent No. 2 ie., State of Gujarat. However, the said Affidavit-in-Reply does not indicate that copy of the representation received by the State Government was forwarded by the State Government to the Central Government.

7.(cid:9)Mr. S.P Dave, learned Asstt. Government Pleader appearing for Respondent Nos. 1 to 3 has gone through the jail records and stated that though seven copies were duly received by the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat, the record does not indicate that one of the copies was forwarded by the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat to the Central Government for its consideration.

8.(cid:9)From the facts which have been stated above, it is evident that on behalf of detenu his advocate had prepared a representation on December 13, 1995. The said representation alongwith seven additional copies, was sent to the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat alongwith a forwarding letter dated December 13, 1995 which was sent by Registered Post A.D. A copy of the forwarding letter sent to the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat is produced by the petitioner at Annexure "C' to the petition. The letter at Annexure "C" indicates that the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat was requested to send copies of the representation to the authorities mentioned in the grounds of detention, for their respective consideration. It is an admitted position that though the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat had duly received seven additional copies of the representation, he had not forwarded one of the copies of the representation to the Central Government for its consideration. It is also an admitted position that the State Government has also not forwarded the copy of representation received by it to the Central Government. It hardly needs to be emphasized that the detenu has a right to make a representation to the Central Government as the Central Government has powers to revoke the order of detention. In fact, in the grounds of detention it was indicated to the detenu that he was free to make representation to Central Government through Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat. When requested, the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat should have forwarded one of the copies of representation to the Central Government for its consideration. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that failure on the part of the Superintendent, Surat District Jail, Surat to forward one of the copies of the representation to the Central Government for its consideration has infringed provisions of Article 22 (5) of the Constitution, and therefore, the continued detention of the detenu will have to be held to be illegal.

9.(cid:9)For the foregoing reasons, the petition succeeds. The continued detention of the detenu is held to be illegal. The respondents are directed to set at liberty the detenu immediately unless his presence is needed with reference to any other case. Rule is made absolute with no order as to costs. **** Prakash*