Madras High Court Overturns YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar’s Detention

The Madras High Court has overturned the detention of YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar, who was held under the Goondas Act. The court found the detention order non-compliant with legal requirements and questioned the motives behind it. The bench emphasized the importance of free speech in a democracy and warned against excessive use of preventive detention laws.

The Madras High Court has nullified the detention order against YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar, who was detained under the Goondas Act. Shankar's mother, A Kamala, had filed a Habeas Corpus Petition, leading to his immediate release from Coimbatore Central Prison, pending other charges.

The division bench, consisting of Justices S M Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam, declared the detention non-compliant with the essential legal requirements. They noted that both adverse complaints were suspiciously registered on the same day, and there was no sufficient ground for preventive detention under Act 14 of 1982.

The bench highlighted the risks of a state clamping down on free speech, particularly through unregulated social media channels. They stressed the need for regulatory mechanisms while safeguarding constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, crucial for a robust democracy.