A father filed a habeas corpus petition claiming his 18-year-old daughter was illegally detained by a man she allegedly eloped with. The detenue was produced before the court and her statement showed she voluntarily went with and married him, so no illegal detention was found and the petition was closed.
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H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 10.02.2026
Coram:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN
H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
S.Xavier ... Petitioner
Vs.
3. Sanjay
….Respondents
Prayer: This Habeas Corpus Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue Writ of Habeas Corpus to direct the second respondent to produce the petitioner’s daughter before this Court namely Joslin Priyadarshini, aged about 18 years D/o. Xavier, now under illegal detention of the third respondent and set her at liberty.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Elumalai
For Respondents : Mr.A.Damodaran, Addl. Public Prosecutor Assisted by Mr.M.Karthikeyan for RR1 & 2 *******
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H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
ORDER
The petitioner, who is the father of the detenu has come forward with this petition seeking directions to the second respondent to produce his daughter namely Joslin Priyadarshini, aged about 18 years D/o. Xavier, before this Court.
2 Learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondents 1 & 2 submitted that the detenue viz. Josline Priyadarshini, aged about 18 years and 5 months, eloped with the third respondent and she appeared before the Sub Inspector of Police, Kanakiliyanallur Police Station, Trichy, and given statement to the effect that she voluntarily went along with the third respondent and married him. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor produced all the copies of the relevant papers and photographs.
3 Today, the detenue has been secured and produced before this Court and we
have also perused the statement of the detenue given before the Sub Inspector of Police, in which she has stated that she, on her own wish, went along with the third respondent and married him. Therefore there is no illegal detention as reported by the petitioner.
[PVJ] [MJRJ]
10.02.2026
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H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
To
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H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
P.VELMURUGAN. J. and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
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H.C.P.No.257 of 2026
10.02.2026
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1 issue framed by the court
Whether the petitioner's daughter Joslin Priyadarshini was under the illegal detention of the third respondent.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
S.Xavier
The State rep. by The Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore District
The Inspector of Police, Kovilpalayam Police Station, Coimbatore District
Sanjay
P.Velmurugan
M.Jothiraman
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
