Mariyammal v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12.03.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.DHANABAL H.C.P.(MD)No.1347 of 2025 Mariyammal .. Petitioner / mother of the detenu Vs.
1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli-9.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Palayamkottai Central Prison, Tiruneveli District.
.. Respondents Prayer :Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the entire records, connected with the detention order of the second respondent in M.H.S.Confdl No.130/2025 dated 08.10.2025 and quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu by name, Maharajan, son of Bethuraj, aged about 30 years, now
detained in Palayamkottai Central Prison before this Court and set him at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Vinoth Bharathi For Respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by N. ANAND VENKATESH,J.) The petitioner is the mother of the detenu, by name, Maharajan, son of Bethuraj, aged about 30 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in M.H.S.Confdl No.130/2025 dated 08.10.2025, dated 02.09.2025 holding him to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of the 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. Apart from the other grounds raised by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, one of the main ground that was raised is that there is a delay of 30 days in passing the detention order and this delay is totally unexplained.
4. In our considered view, the issue is squarely covered by the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sushanta Kumar Banik Vs. State of Tripura and Others reported in 2022 SCC Online SC 1333.
5. The detention order is vitiated due to the fact that there was a solitary case and the live and proximate link between the grounds of detention and the purpose of the detention is completely absent. Hence, this Court is inclined to interfere with the detained order passed by the second respondent.
6. In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order of detention in M.H.S.Confdl No.130/2025 dated 08.10.2025, passed by the second respondent is set aside. The detenu, viz., Maharajan, son of
Bethuraj, aged about 30 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case. (N.A.V.,J..) (P.D.B.,J.,) 12.03.2026 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No TSG To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat Chennai-600 009.
2.The District Collector and District Magistrate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli-9.
3.The Superintendent of Prison, Palayamkottai Central Prison, Tiruneveli District.
4.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
N. ANAND VENKATESH,J.
AND P.DHANABAL,J.
TSG H.C.P.(MD)No.1347 of 2025 12.03.2026