Lokha v. The Principal Secretary to Government
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court habeas corpus petition (H.C.P. No.2374 of 2025, decided 19.01.2026) under Article 226 by Lokha against the detention of Mathesh under Cr.M.P.No.22/Drug Offender/2025 C1 (drug offender detention, Erode District; Central Prison, Coimbatore). Sole ground pressed: non-application of mind by the detaining authority, because the cited bail order in Crl.M.P.No.2060 of 2024 (bail dated 05.08.2024) preceded the detenu's arrest on 22.04.2025 and the detention order dated 19.05.2025. Petition allowed; detention order quashed; detenu set at liberty unless required in another case. Keywords: habeas corpus, preventive detention, drug offender, non-application of mind, subjective satisfaction, Article 226, Erode, Coimbatore.
What did the court decide?
Detention order in Cr.M.P.No.22/Drug Offender/2025 C1 dated 19.05.2025 against detenu Mathesh quashed; detenu directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless required in connection with any other case.