Vijayaraj Vs Additional Chief Secretary to the Government

The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort.St.George, Chennai – 600009.

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The District Collector and District Magistrate, Coimbatore District.

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The Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore - 18.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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2026:MHC:2920

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HCP No.77 of 2026

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The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Coimbatore - 18.

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The Inspector of Police Alandurai Police Station, Coimbatore. Crime No.173 of 2025.

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..Respondent(s)

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Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the direction to produce petitioner/detenue C.Vijayaraj S/o Chandran aged about 30 years presently confined at Central Prison, Coimbatore before this Court and set him at liberty forthwith, after calling for the records pertaining to the detention order dated 01.11.2025 in Cr.M.P.No.47/D.O./2025 passed by the 2nd respondent quash the same.

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For Petitioner:	Mr.R.Prabakar
For Respondents:	Mr.C.R.Malarvannan
	Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu
	(Criminal Side)

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by Sunder Mohan J.)

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The petitioner/detenu – Vijayaraj, S/o.Chandran, aged 30 years, has filed this petition challenging the detention order dated 01.11.2025,

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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2026:MHC:2920

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HCP No.77 of 2026

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branding him as a ‘Drug Offender’ under Section 2(e) of the Tamil Nadu Preventive Detention Act, 1982 (Act 14/1982).

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Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) for the respondents.

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It is seen from the impugned order and the grounds of detention that the detenu was arrested on 29.09.2025 and he was detained on 01.11.2025. The respondents have not satisfactorily explained the delay in passing the order of detention either in the grounds of detention or in the counter affidavit. We are of the view that in view of the delay, the live and proximate link between grounds of detention and the purpose of detention, is snapped. In this regard, we may rely upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in 'Sushanta Kumar Banik Vs. State of Tripura' , reported in '2022 SCC OnLine SC 1333' and the relevant paragraph reads as follows:

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“ 21. It is manifestly clear from a conspectus of the above decisions of this Court, that the underlying principle is that if there is unreasonable delay between the date of the order of detention &

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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2026:MHC:2920

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HCP No.77 of 2026

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actual arrest of the detenu and in the same manner from the date of the proposal and passing of the order of detention, such delay unless satisfactorily explained throws a considerable doubt on the genuineness of the requisite subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority in passing the detention order and consequently render the detention order bad and invalid because the “live and proximate link” between the grounds of detention and the purpose of detention is snapped in arresting the detenu. A question whether the delay is unreasonable and stands unexplained depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. ”

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4 . Drawing inspiration from the judgment in Sushanta Kumar

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Banik's case , a co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of 'Gomathi Vs. Principal Secretary to Government and Others', reported in '2023 SCC OnLine Mad 6332' , had held that when there is an inordinate delay from the date of arrest/date of proposal till the order of detention, the live and proximate link between the grounds and purpose of detention would stand snapped.

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5 . In yet another case i.e., in 'Nagaraj Vs. State of Tamil Nadu' ,

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reported in ' (2018) 3 MWN (Cri) 428' , this Court had held that the delay of 36 days in passing the detention order after the arrest of the detenu

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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2026:MHC:2920

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HCP No.77 of 2026

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would snap the live and proximate link between the grounds and purpose of detention. Hence, in view of the unexplained and inordinate delay in passing the order of detention, after the arrest of the detenu, the detention order in the present case, is liable to be quashed.

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In light of the above discussion, this Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the Detention Order passed by the second respondent in Cr.M.P.No.47/D.O/2025 dated 01.11.2025, is set aside.

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7.The detenu, viz.,Vijayaraj, S/o.Chandran, aged 30 years, now

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confined in Central Prison, Coimbatore, is directed to be set at liberty forthwith, unless his presence is required in connection with any other

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case.

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(A.S.M.,J.) (S.M.,J.) 20-07-2026

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Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

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Note: Issue order copy today.