T.Lazarus v. The State Of Tamilnadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 09.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA T.Lazarus ... Petitioner/ Maternal Uncle of the Detenue -vs1.The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by its, The Commissioner of Police, O/o.the Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City.
2.The Inspector of Police, Palayamkottai Police Station, Tirunelveli City.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of habeas corpus directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to produce the body or person of the petitioner's sister's minor daughter namely, Angelin D/O Thomas (aged 17 years) before the Hon'ble Court and hand over the custody to the
petitioner.
For Petitioner :
Mr.Aayiram K.Selvakumar For Respondents :
Mr.B.Nambi Selvan Additional Public Prosecutor
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.] This petition is filed to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to produce the body or person of the petitioner's sister's minor daughter namely, Angelin D/O Thomas (aged 17 years) before this Court and hand over the custody to the petitioner. 2.The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner's sister namely, Gnanaselvam Jebamani, who is the mother of the detenue/minor girl, had married to one Thomas and they were blessed with two children namely, Angeline/detenue, aged about 17 years and son Natarajan aged about 11 years. The petitioner's sister died due to heart attack about eight years ago. After her demise, the husband of the petitioner's sister abandoned two children and got married and led separate life. Thereafter, the petitioner is taking care of his sister's
children and undertaking their educational expenses. The further case of the petitioner is that petitioner's wife had passed away leaving a girl child and all the children are taken care by him along with his maternal aunt namely, Alphonse. The detenue/minor girl was studying B.Com (CA), 1st year at Sarah Tucker College, Perumalpuram. All of a sudden, on 04.04.2025, the detenue/minor girl went missing. Hence, the petitioner has given a complaint before the second respondent Police. Based on his complaint, the second respondent Police registered a case in Criem No.185 of 2025 under the caption "Girl Missing" on 04.04.2025. Since the respondent police have not taken any steps to find out the whereabouts of the detenue/minor girl, the petitioner has come up with the present Habeas Corpus Petition.
3.Earlier on 02.07.2025, when the matter came up for admission, it was reported by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor that steps were taken to find out the whereabouts of the missing girl. Hence, this Court had directed the case to be listed after two weeks. Today morning, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor mentioned before this Court that the missing person has been secured from Erode and thereby, she was produced before this Court today. He further
submitted that the second respondent has filed a status report before this Court and the same is recorded.
4.We enquired the missing person. She submitted that she got acquainted with the known person, namely Thivyanathan, through Instagram and they hired a house at Nadupalayam, Erode District, where they were living. During their stay, she was rescued by the police team on 07.07.2025 and she has been produced before this Court and she has expressed her willingness to go along with her maternal uncle/petitioner.
5. Recording the statement of the detenu/minor girl, this habeas corpus petition is closed. The respondent police shall continue with the further investigation in Crime No.185 of 2025.
[A.D.J.C., J.] [R.P., J.] 09.07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No vsg
To:
The Commissioner of Police, O/o.the Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City.
2.The Inspector of Police, Palayamkottai Police Station, Tirunelveli City.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.
AND R.POORNIMA , J.
vsg 09.07.2025