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Issues: Detention based on single incident, non-application of mind by Detaining Authority, delayed disposal of representation
Issue 1: Detention based on a single incident The detenu-petitioner, arrested for various charges, challenged his detention based on a solitary incident of 21-9-1988. The grounds of detention only attributed one transaction to him, which the petitioner argued was without basis. The Detaining Authority did not consider the relevant fact that the petitioner and his co-accused had been granted bail before the detention order was passed. The detention order was based on this single incident, raising concerns about the sufficiency of grounds for detention. Issue 2: Non-application of mind by Detaining Authority The reply filed by the Assistant Collector of the Central Excise Collectorate admitted that the detention order was based on a single transaction and that the representation by the detenu-petitioner was pending for a month before being rejected. The Detaining Authority did not consider crucial information, such as the bail granted to the co-accused, which could have influenced the decision. The Detaining Authority's failure to take into account all relevant facts indicated a lack of proper application of mind in passing the detention order. Issue 3: Delayed disposal of representation The detenu-petitioner's representation dated 23-10-1988 was rejected on 30-12-1988, resulting in an unexplained delay of 30 days. Precedents, such as Kamla Kanhaiyalal Khushlani v. State of Maharashtra, have established that unexplained delays in disposing of representations can render continued detention void. The delay in this case further raised concerns about the legality of the detention. Judgment Analysis The judgment highlighted the need for the Detaining Authority to consider all relevant facts before passing a detention order. Citing precedents like Sita Ram Somani v. State of Rajasthan, the court emphasized the importance of proper application of mind to avoid vitiating the detention order. The court also referred to cases like Dulal Chandra Majumdar v. State of West Bengal to underscore that detention based solely on a single incident could be deemed irrelevant to the satisfaction of the authority. Ultimately, the court quashed the detention order based on the grounds of non-application of mind and the delayed disposal of the detenu-petitioner's representation, ordering the immediate release of the petitioner.
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