HC advises TN govt against unnecessary use of Goondas Act

The Madras High Court has advised the Tamil Nadu government to refrain from using the Goondas Act unnecessarily.

This directive was issued by a bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Sivagnanam, who are currently hearing cases challenging arrests made under the Goondas Act.

In a recent session, the bench reviewed a case challenging a detention order under the Goondas Act. During the proceedings, the judges raised questions about granting interim bail to those detained under the Act. They also sought the opinion of the state’s Chief Public Prosecutor on the matter.

Later in the afternoon, Chief Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah appeared before the judges. He acknowledged that the court has the authority to grant interim bail, although this may vary depending on the specifics of each case.

He also mentioned that, in the case of convicted prisoners, the government holds the authority to grant parole.

The court’s observations and the prosecutor’s remarks have added a new dimension to the ongoing discussions about the application of the Goondas Act in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the need for careful consideration before invoking such stringent measures.