R.Indhumathi v. The Additional Chief secretary to Government
Habeas Corpus – Preventive detention – Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982, S.2(gg) ('Sand Offender')
Case brief
What is this about?
HCP No. 2595 of 2025, High Court of Judicature at Madras, decided 15-07-2026 (order by Sunder Mohan J.; bench with Dr. Justice Anita Sumanth). Wife R.Indhumathi challenged preventive detention of her husband Rajasekar @ Vellai as a 'Sand Offender' under Section 2(gg) of the Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982 (Act 14/1982) vide D.O.No.54/2025-C2 dated 04.11.2025; detenu confined in Central Prison, Vellore. Petition allowed: relied-upon documents (Arrest Intimation Form, similar bail order, bail orders in two adverse cases) were not translated into Tamil, denying the detenu effective representation; court relied on Powanammal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1999) 2 SCC 413. Search terms: habeas corpus; preventive detention; sand offender; translation of relied upon documents; language known to detenu; effective representation; Tiruvannamalai; Central Prison Vellore.
What did the court decide?
Detention Order D.O.No.54/2025-C2 dated 04.11.2025 set aside; detenu Rajasekar @ Vellai directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.