Case relating to liberty of citizen be given priority: SC

"We request all the High Courts to give priority for the disposal of the matters relating to personal liberty of a citizen, particularly when the detention period is for one year or less than a year and, more so, after hearing the parties, the decision must be known to the affected party without unreasonable delay," a bench of justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi said.

The court passed the order on a plea filed by one Baby Devassy Chully challenging his detention order passed by the government authority.

With a view to preventing him from abetting smuggling of goods, a Joint Secretary at the Centre had passed detention order against him under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.

The bench, who dismissed Chully's plea, took note of the fact that the Bombay High Court took five months to deliver the verdict after reserving its order on his plea.

"In the case on hand, we feel that keeping the writ petition pending after hearing the parties and compelling the detenu to wait for five months to know the result of his petition cannot be accepted," the bench said.

"By this appeal, we remind all the High Courts that in a matter of this nature affecting the personal liberty of a citizen, it is the duty of the courts to make all endeavours and efforts for an early decision," it said.