Tara Chand vs State Of Rajasthan And Ors. on 13 February, 1980 Equivalent citations: AIR1980SC1361, [1982]52COMPCAS53(SC), 1980CRILJ1015, (1980)2SCC321, 1980(12)UJ336(SC), AIR 1980 SUPREME COURT 1361, (1980) 2 SCJ 389, 1980 MADLJ(CRI) 795, (1980) 2 SCC 821, 1980 SCC(CRI) 441, 1980 UJ (SC) 336, 1980 (2) SCC 321 Author: S. Murtaza Fazal Ali Bench: A.D. Koshal, S. Murtaza Fazal Ali JUDGMENT S. Murtaza Fazal Ali, J. 1. This writ petition by Tara Chand, a brother of the detenu, Hira Nand, has been filed against and order of detention dated 30.6.79 passed by the Government of Rajasthan under the provisions of Conservation of Foreign Exchange & Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (hereinafter called the Coffposa). The detenue was arrested on 19.7.79 and on the same day he was served with the grounds of detention in which there was no indication, although there should have been that the detenu was entitled to make a representation to the detaining authority. However, Smt. Nita, the wife of the detenu, made two representations dated 267.79 and 31.7.79 to the State Government but the same were rejected on or before the 30th August, 1979. The Counsel appearing for the petitioner has not made any grievance regarding the rejection of these two representations by the State Government. It appears, however, that on the 6th December, 1979 another representation was sent by by Smt. Nita to the Home Minister of Rajasthan, the President of India, the Prime Minister of India and the Finance Minister of the Union Government praying that the order of detention should be revoked. From a letter sent to the detenu from the President's Secretariat on 9.10 79, it appears that the President had received his representation before 9.10.79 and the same had been forwarded to the Finance Ministry of the Union Government for necessary action. It is common ground that neither the representation was considered by the Union of India nor was any order passed by it. A general plea was taken by Mr. Abdul Khadar that probably the Union of India did not receive this representation at all which, however, is clearly falsified by the letter sent by the President of India, which we have referred to above. In the counter affidavit filed by the Government of India also a very vague and evasive stand appears to have been taken. It is not said that any orders were passed on the representation or that it was considered but it is said that it was to abide by any stand taken by the State Government. Section 11(1) of the COFEPUSA Act clearly enjoins that the Central Government may revoke or modify an order passed by the State Government. Mr. Abdul Khadar fairly conceded that the Central Government had a discretion under Section 11 of the COFEPOSA Tara Chand vs State Of Rajasthan And Ors. on 13 February, 1980  1 Act to revoke the order of detention.Thus when once a representation is made to the Central Government, it is duty bound to consider the same in order to exercise its discretion either in rejecting or accepting it. If there is inordinate delay in considering the representation that would clearly amount to violation of the provisions of Article 22(5) as to render the detention unconstitutional and void. We, therefore, allow the petition and direct that the detenu be released forthwith. Tara Chand vs State Of Rajasthan And Ors. on 13 February, 1980  2