Vimala v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :11.02.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R. POORNIMA Vimala ... Petitioner -vsState of Tamil Nadu

1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The District Magistrate and District Collector Karur District, karur 3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Tiruchirapalli ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the records relating to the impugned order of detention made in Cr.MP.No.30 of 2025 dated 11.08.2025 on the file of the District Magistrate and District Collector, Karur District, the second respondent herein branding the

petitioner's husband detenu by name Venkatesan, son of Shanmugam, aged 42 years as "Goonda" who is now confined in Central Prison, Tiruchirapalli and quash the impugned order of detention and set him at liberty by producing him before this Court.

For Petitioner :

Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu For Respondents : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN,J.) The petitioner is the wife of the detenu viz., Venkatesan, son of Shanmugam, aged 42 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Detention order inCr.MP.No.30 of 2025 dated 11.08.2025 holding him to be a "GOONDA", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this habeas corpus petition.

2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the detenu was detained by a detention roder dated 11.08.2025, however it was sent for its approval, thereby there was an explained delay of seven days, which is in clear violation of Section 3(3) of the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act, 14 of 1982.

4. It is relevant to extract the Section 3(3) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982:- "3(3) When any order is made under this section by an officer mentioned in sub-section (2), he shall forthwith report the fact to the State Government together with the grounds on which the order has been made and such other particulars as, in his opinion, have a bearing on the matter, and no such order shall remain in force for more than twelve days after the making thereof, unless, in the meantime, it has been approved by the State Government."

5. It is seen from the records that in this case, the order of detention was passed on 11.08.2025 and the same was sent to the

Government only on 18.08.2025. The date of detention order 11.08.2025 however, the detaining authority had taken seven days time for sending the same to the Government for approval. On this sole ground alone the order of detention cannot be sustained and the same is liable to be quashed.

6. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in Cr.MP.No.30 of 2025 dated 11.08.2025 , passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Venkatesan, son of Shanmugam, aged 42 years , is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. [G.K.I., J.] [R.P., J.] 11.02.2026 NCC :Yes/No Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No aav

To

1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The District Magistrate and District Collector Karur District, karur 3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Tiruchirapalli 4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN,J.

AND R. POORNIMA,J.

aav 11.02.2026