Parveen Banu v. the State of Tamilnadu Rep by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government
Habeas Corpus – Preventive detention – Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 ('Drug Offender') – Non-application of mind
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, H.C.P.No.76 of 2025, decided 11.03.2025 (M.S. Ramesh & N. Senthilkumar JJ.) — habeas corpus allowed; preventive detention under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 (detention order BCDFGISSSV No.1209/2024 dated 10.12.2024, detenu branded 'Drug Offender') quashed for non-application of mind; Detaining Authority wrongly relied on bail order Crl.M.P.No.1414/2021 dated 04.06.2021 involving offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B), 29(1) NDPS Act, unlike the detenu's case under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B), 25, 29(1) NDPS Act; relied on Rekha v. State of Tamil Nadu, 2011 [5] SCC 244 (ipse dixit on bail likelihood unsustainable); petitioner Parveen Banu (wife); detenu Mohammed Yousuf ordered released unless required otherwise; keywords: preventive detention, Grounds of Detention, bail order similarity, subjective satisfaction, writ of habeas corpus, Article 226.
What did the court decide?
Detention order in BCDFGISSSV No.1209/2024 dated 10.12.2024 set aside; detenu Mohammed Yousuf directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his confinement is required in connection with any other case.