X Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner is the father of the alleged detenue. In the instant writ petition, the petitioner seeks issuance of a writ of habeas corpus mandating production of his daughter, aged 18 years, before this Court on the premise that she is under illegal detention of the 3rd respondent herein.

(2.) In the writ petition, the petitioner would allege that his daughter had just crossed the age of 18 years and that she had not returned from the college on 14/3/2022, whereafter she is missing. Upon enquiry, the petitioner came to know that his daughter/detenue is in the custody of the 3rd respondent, later substantiated by a message sent by the third respondent to the petitioner. According to the petitioner, the custody of the detenue with the third respondent is against her will and, therefore, illegal. On such premise, the petitioner seeks the relief above referred.

(3.) By order dtd. 7/4/2022, we directed production of the alleged detenue before the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kollam on 12/4/2022. Accordingly, the alleged detenue was produced, whereupon she expressed her desire to go along with her parents. For reiteration, the alleged detenue was directed to be produced before this Court today along with her parents. Accordingly, the detenue, third respondent and the parents of the detenue are present before us today. We have interacted with the alleged detenue and she expressed her firm desire to live with her parents.