Allowed

T.Andal Thevan v. The State of Tamil Nadu

Madras HC11 Mar 2026HCP(MD)/52/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This is a Habeas Corpus petition challenging a detention order passed under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Act of 1982 drafting the detenu as a 'Goonda'. The High Court held that the detaining authority committed a clear non-application of mind by relying on a prior, dissimilar bail order where no antecedents existed. The petition was allowed, and the detention order was set aside, directing the r

What did the court decide?

The detention order dated 06.10.2025 is set aside, and the detenu Karan @ Karan Raja is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

T.Andal Thevan Vs The State of Tamil Nadu — Constitutional and Fundamental Rights | Madras HC (2026)

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 11.03.2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.DHANABAL

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H.C.P.(MD)No.52 of 2026

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T.Andal Thevan ... Petitioner /Father of the detenu Vs.

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1.State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its the Principal Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat,

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Chennai-600 009.

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2.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

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3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.

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4.The Inspector of Police, Thirunagar Police Station, Madurai District. (Crime No.407 of 2025)

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..... Respondents

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Page 1 of 6

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

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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Prayer :Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus calling for the records pertaining to the impugned detention order issued by the second respondent in his proceedings in Detention Order No.49/BBCDEFGISSSV/2025 dated 06.10.2025 in detaining the detenu under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 as a Goonda at the Central Prison, Madurai and thereby, to quash the same and direct the respondents to produce the detenu namely, Karan @ Karan Raja, S/o Andal Thevan, aged 25 years, who is now detained at the Central Prison, Madurai, before this Court and set him at liberty.

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For Petitioner : Mr.K.Vignesh For Respondents : Mr.A.Thiruvadikumar Additional Public Prosecutor

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by N. ANAND VENKATESH,J.)

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The petitioner is the wife of the detenu viz., Karan @ Karan Raja, S/o Andal Thevan, aged 25 years. The detenu has been detained by the second respondent by his order in Detention Order No.49/BBCDEFGISSSV/2025 dated 06.10.2025 holding him to be a "Goonda", as contemplated under Section 2(f) of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982. The said order is under challenge in this Habeas Corpus Petition.

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Page 2 of 6

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

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents. We have also perused the records produced by the Detaining Authority.

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Among the other grounds that were raised by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, one of the main ground that was raised by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner is that, the Detaining Authority was aware of the fact that no bail petition was filed as on the date of the passing of the detention order and the Detaining Authority had taken into consideration the order passed in Crl.M.P.No.5270 of 2022 dated 28.09.2022 and came to a conclusion that it is a similar case where bail was granted and therefore, there is likelihood of the detenu being granted bail in this case also. It is submitted that the order that was relied upon is not a similar case and therefore, there is clear non-application of mind.

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We have carefully gone through the order passed in Crl.M.P.No. 5270 of 2022. That was a case where the accused therein did not have any antecedents and was in judicial custody for nearly 81 days and it was also reported to the Court that the investigation had been completed. Page 3 of 6

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

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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Considering the same, the bail was granted. However, in the case in hand, there was one adverse case and no bail petition had been filed by the detenu and the investigation was pending. Therefore, the order passed in Crl.M.P.No.5270 of 2022 cannot certainly be taken to be a similar case and it is a clear non-application of mind.

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In the result, the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed and the order

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passed by the second respondent in Detention Order No. 49/BBCDEFGISSSV/2025 dated 06.10.2025 is set aside. The detenu, viz., Karan @ Karan Raja, S/o Andal Thevan, aged 25 years, is directed to be released forthwith unless his detention is required in connection with any other case.

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[N.A.V.,J.] [P.D.B.,J.] 11.03.2026 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No TSG

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Page 4 of 6

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

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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1.The Principal Secretary to the Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat,

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Chennai-600 009.

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2.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

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3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Madurai.

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4.The Inspector of Police, Thirunagar Police Station, Madurai District.

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5.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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Page 5 of 6

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

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HCP(MD) No.52 of 2026

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N. ANAND VENKATESH,J. AND P.DHANABAL,J.

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TSG

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H.C.P.(MD)No.52 of 2026

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11.03.2026

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Page 6 of 6

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

T.Andal Thevan v. The State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

T.Andal Thevan v. The State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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