The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Cyber Law Offenders, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Sexual Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act of 1982 is probably the only law with such a long title. However, in common parlance, it is referred to shortly as the Goondas Act and the legal professionals call it Act 14 of 1982.
It is a preventive detention law that empowers the State to detain people in prison, without a trial, for preventing “dangerous activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.” It is similar to the National Security Act (NSA) of 1980 enacted by the Parliament to maintain public order and national security. The Madras High Court is flooded with habeas corpus petitions challenging the detention orders passed under the Goondas Act.
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