The father of Valarmathi, a post-graduate journalism student of Periyar University (since suspended) held under the Goondas Act, moved a Habeas Corpus petition (HCP) in the Madras High Court on Wednesday seeking her release.
Madhaiyan, Valarmathi’s father, has submitted that the detention of his daughter, who is fighting for people’s causes in a peaceful manner, was “malice in law”. He said his daughter’s detention was per se illegal and abuse of power and sought the quashing of the detention order passed by the Salem City police commissioner on July 17.
“People have the right to protest peacefully without any arms and it is protected under 19(1) (b) (c) of the Constitution. The alleged minor infraction of law and order can be controlled under normal law of the land, and there is no compelling necessity to pass the detention order,” the petitioner submitted.
The division bench of Justice A. Selvam and Justice Pon. Kalaiyarasan adjourned the matter and posted it for Thursday.
Ms. Valarmathi was detained under the Goondas Act for distributing pamphlets against the implementation of the hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal and the laying of ONGC pipelines in Kadiramangalam.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had said on the floor of the Assembly last month that the students had been causing disturbance to the public by taking part in various protests and instigating the people. He had also said that the Goondas Act would be filed against people who disrupt law and order in the State.
