GURUNATHAN Vs. STATE REPRESENTED BY OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AND THE SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU, PROHIBITION AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is the sister's husband of the detenu. Challenge is made to the order of the first respondent in H.S.(M) Confdl. No. 15/2008 dated 9.4.2008 whereby the detenu was ordered to be detained under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Boot-Leggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982) terming him as a "Goonda".

(2.) The Court heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and also Learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondents.

(3.) At the outset, the Court has to point out that though the petition came to be admitted on 16.9.2008, no counter has been filed by the State and the matter has been pending for the past seven months.