V. RAMASWAMI, J.

This petition has been filed by the wife of the detenu, Duraiswamy Mudaliar, praying for the issue of a writ of habeas corpus directing the respondents to produce the detenu and set him at liberty forthwith

2. By an order dt. 7-12-1983 the husband of the petitioner one Duraisamy Mudaliar was directed to be detained and kept in custody at the Central Prison by the District Magistrate Chingalpattu in exercise of his powers under S. 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act, 1982 (for short the Act) on the ground that it was necessary to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The detenu was charged for an offence under S. 4(1)(a) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act in Crime No. 1894 of 1982 on the ground that he was found to be in possession on 13-10-1982 of chloral hydrate and has been selling the same to toddy shop owners. Again, he was charged in Crime No. 446 of 1983 for a similar offence under S. 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act on the ground that he was in possession of 15 packets of