• Madras High Court Allows Habeas Corpus Plea due to Improper Arrest Intimation
• The Madras High Court recently made an important ruling regarding the detention of a woman’s husband. The court allowed a habeas corpus plea, which means the woman requested the court to examine whether her husband’s detention was lawful.
• The court stated that the intimation of the husband’s detention through a Short Message Service (SMS) was not considered a proper way to inform someone about their arrest.
• Justices M Sundar and M Nirmal Kumar, who presided over the case, also noted that there was no evidence proving that the woman received the SMS. As a result, the court concluded that it is crucial to provide a proper intimation to the person being detained, and it is important for them to understand the reasons behind their arrest.
• Additionally, the court emphasized that the detenu, the person being detained, has a constitutional right to effectively represent themselves in relation to the preventive detention order.
• This safeguard is enshrined in Clause (5) of Article 22 of the Constitution of India.
• The petitioner, who is a woman, filed her plea in April, challenging the preventive detention order issued against her husband on November 30, 2022.
• According to the order, the detention was made under “The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber law offenders, Drug-offenders, Forest-offenders, Goondas, Immoral traffic offenders, Sand-offenders, Sexual-offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982.”
• The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the arrest intimation sent via text message to the petitioner’s mobile number was inadequate and lacked the necessary details about the detention.
• This failure to provide the required information hindered the detenu’s right to make an effective representation.
• After considering the arguments, the court nullified the detention order and directed the immediate release of the petitioner’s husband, provided he was not required in connection with any other case.

• In the Indian legal system, “habeas corpus” is a term used to describe a legal procedure that helps protect individuals from being unlawfully detained or imprisoned.
• It is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India and is aimed at safeguarding personal liberty.
• Let’s understand habeas corpus with a simple example:

Suppose there is a person named Rahul who is arrested by the police without any apparent legal reason. Rahul’s family and friends believe that his arrest is unjust and that he is being held unlawfully. In such a situation, they can approach the court by filing a petition called a writ of habeas corpus.

The writ of habeas corpus is a legal document that asks the court to inquire into the legality of Rahul’s detention. It is a way to challenge the authorities and demand that they provide a valid reason for keeping Rahul in custody.

When the court receives the writ of habeas corpus, they will examine the case. They will review the circumstances of Rahul’s arrest, the evidence presented, and the legal basis for his detention. The court will assess whether the police followed the correct legal procedures and if there are any grounds for holding Rahul in custody.

If the court finds that Rahul’s detention is unlawful, they can issue the writ of habeas corpus, which orders the immediate release of Rahul from custody. This means that the court has determined that Rahul’s arrest was not justified and he should be set free.

• The purpose of the writ of habeas corpus in Indian law is to protect individuals from arbitrary or illegal detention.
• It ensures that every person’s right to personal liberty is respected and that no one can be deprived of their freedom without proper legal justification.

In summary, :- habeas corpus is a legal remedy in the Indian law system that allows individuals or their representatives to challenge the lawfulness of their detention. It is a crucial tool to protect personal liberty and ensure that no one is unjustly held in custody.

“The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber law offenders, Drug-offenders, Forest-offenders, Goondas, Immoral traffic offenders, Sand-offenders, Sexual-offenders, Slum-grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982.” (Click here to see the law in detail..) (पाहण्यासाठी येथे क्लिक करा…)