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The Tamil Nadu Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act, 1948

Tamil Nadu · state statute
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The Tamil Nadu Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act, 1948 
 
Act 6 of 1948 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Keyword(s): 
Habitual Offender, Scheduled Offence, Settlement 
 
1055 
THE TAM= NADU RESTRIC!TION OF 
HABITUAI OFFENDERS ACT, 1948. 
F 
TABLE OF cnmclu~c 1 
1 Short title, extent and commencemmt. 
2 Definitions. 
1 
NOT~F~CATION OF OFFENDERS AND RESTRICTIONS 
OF THEIR MOVFMPNrc I 
3 Power of Government to notify habitual 
offenders. 6 
4 Delegation of powers to Disuict Magis- 
trate. 
5 Notified offenders to inti~nate residcnm and change of residence. 
6 Power to restrict movcmcnts of notified 
offenders. 
7 Power to a~lccl or altr~t- ~lll.h ,-,.. + ..:-*: I 
I- 9 Power to discharge or transfer pel-sons 1 
I from scttlcrnwts. 
10 , Ibm- to subject 'voluntary resjdellts in 
sett]cments to rytrictions and penaltics 
I 
-.--- ..- 
I /( 
1056 Restriction 
SECTIONS. 
11 Power so make rules. 
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE. 
12 P3nal:ies. 
13 Arrest at' ngtified offenders. 
14 Rules for th:: rcnlovnl of p:isoners to apply 
in cct tqi17 ases. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
15 Bar ot' juri~1i:tiori. 
1 j-A Pr:~t:~lio~l of ;LC~~OII fakc11 in good faith 
IS-n ~'OWC! 1,) 'itnc111I Schedule. 
l5 EiY3c.t ,\I' c: ta;n ordcrs p.t.sccl undcr , 
. I f'rib;, h~r, 1924, ctc. 
1 7 (R~~pl.t~ lr cl.) 
i3 ( R.'j)3:.:!~(i.) 
Tl~c Scilcdule. 
'[TAMIL NADU~ ACT Nix VI OF 1948.0 
WHEREAS it is expedient to impc% =Ax :r6trictions 
on habitual offenders )h the 3pts;s _P 3-a53 Nad~l; 
It is hereby enacted as follows :- 
PRELIMINARY. 
(3) It shall come into fort: :r: 2% day of 
--- ----- -- 
These words were subst~tuted for & v-, --:J~~rd" by the 
Tamil Nadu Adaptation of Laws Order 5%~' x . z~zucied by the 
Tamil Nadu Adaptation of Laws (Second *mws cxdez, 19651. 
Pof Statement of Objects and Ww +Z ZY' Sr George 
Gazette, dated the 5th March 1948, Part T/J-- B30. 
This Act was extended to the -& T$ r~~uiSotrai by 
section 3 of, and the First Schedule to, the- Hsrged State (Laws) Act, 1949 (Taxnil Nadu Act XXXV d :C*- 
ss there is anything repugnant 
(2) "District Magistrate" means in the case of 
the presidency-town, the Commissioner of Police; 
I 
I (3) "Government" means the '[State J Govern- 
(4) "habitual offender" means a person who, 
before or after the commencement of this Act, has been 
sentenced to a substantive term of imprisonment, such 
sentence not having been set aside in appeal or revision, 
on not less than three occasions,"for any one or more 
of the scheduled offences] each of the subsequent sen- 
tences having been passed in respect of an offence 
committed after the passing of the sentence on the 
previous occasion ; 
E.tpianation.-The passing of an order requiring a 
person to give security for good behaviour with refe- 
rence to section 110 of '[the Code of Criminal 
I Procedure, 19731 (Central Act 2 of 1974) shall be 
I 
deemed to amount to the passing of a sentence of 
st1 bstantive imprisonment within the meaning of this 
clause. 
(5) "notification" means a notification published 
in the Fort St. George Gazette; 
(6) "notified offender" means a habitual offellder 
in respect of whom a notification has been issued under 
section 3 and is in force; 
(7) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made 
1 under this Act ; k - 
t This word was substituted for the word " Provincial " by tk 
Adaptation Order of 1950. 
xpression " for OM or 
n Penal Code (Central Act " section 2(1) (a) of the 
ffinders (Amendment) Act, 
0 ex ~ds~ion " the Code 
of 1898) " by wion 
I 
[(7-A) ' scheduled offence ' means an offence 
specified in the Schedule ; J 
1 (8) "settlement" means a settl ment established 
or deemed to be established under 4 ction 8. 
t 
NOTIFICATION OF OFFENDERS AND RESmCTIONS 
OF THEIR MOVEMENTS. 
2[3, (1) The Government may, by notification, Power of 
if they are satisfied that any person is a habitcal offen- ~~~~ 
der declare that he shall be subject to the provisions habitual 
of this Act to such extent and subject to such restric- offenders. 
tions, if any, as may be &ecified in the notification, 
(2) Every notification issued under sub-section 
(1) shall be in force for a period of five years from the 
date of the publication of such notification, but the 
Government may, by notification, at any time before 
the expiry of the said period, cancel or modify any 
notificatiou issued under sub-section (1). 
(3) The cancellation of a notificat;on or the 
expiry of the period of five years, under sub-scction (2) 
Thia clause was inserted by section 2(2) of theTamil NaduRestric- 
i 
tion of Habitual Offenders (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu 
Act 55 of 1975). 
This raotlon was substituted for the origltull ocction 3 by section 
3, /bid. 
125-14-67~ 
\ 
I t 1 
I 
shall not be deemed to aTect the power of the Govcrn- 
ment under sub-scctinn (1) to issue a notification in 
respect of a llabitval ollender as often as he is sentenced 
to a substan1;ve term cf ;mprisonment, such sentence 
not having been set aside in appeal or revision, for any 
one or more of the scheduled offences at any tjme after 
such cancellation or expiry. 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub- 
section (2), where a notified offender is sentenced to a 
substantive term of imprisonment, such sentence not 
having been set aside in appeal or revision, for any one 
or more of the scheduled offenoes, the Governmenf 
- - 
may direct that the notification issued under sub- 
section (1) in respect of such notified offender shall be 
in force for a further period of five years from the date 
of his release from such imprisonment. 
(5) Before any notification is issued in respect 
of any person i~nder subsection (I), or modified to his 
disadvantage under sub-section (2), or before any 
direction is issuec' im respect of any notified offender 
under subsection (4), a reasonable opportunity shall 
be given to him to show cause against such issue, 
modi,ficatia~ or direction, as the case may be. 
Debtion 4. The Government may, by notification, delegate 
of powers to their powers under section 3 to a District Magistrate, District 
Magistrate. in respect of persons ordinarily residing in his district, 
subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be 
specified in the notification and subject also to control 
and revision by them. 
NO titied 5. Every notified offender shall intimate to such 
authority and in such manner as may be prescribed, his to intimate 
resib- place of residence, every change or intended change 
and thereof, and every absence or intended absence there- change of from : residence. 
Provided that the District Magistrate or any officer 
authorized by him may exempt any such offender from 
reporting any temporary absence or intended absence 
from his resicfence, not exceeding such limit as nuy be 
prescribed. 
Power to 
restrict 
movement S 
of notified 
offenders. 
6; (1) '[If in the opinion af the Government it is 
necessary or expedient in the interests of thc general 
public so to do], they may, by notification, declare 
that any notified offender shall he restricted in his movc- 
ments to a specified area. 
- 
Thase words yete substituted for the words " If in the opinion 
of the Go~e.rnmcnt lt is expedient to do so.' by section 4 ottboTamil 
Nadu Rustr~ction of Habitual Offenders (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 55 of 1975). 
1948 : T.N.Act VIJ ~e8triction of 8obitua.l 1061 ' 
Offenders 
(2) Before making any such declaration, the 
,.' Government shall consider- I 
(i) the nature of the offences, @Ay, of which 
+ the offender has been coilvicted and the circumstances 
in which they were committed ; * I 
(ii) whether the offender foliows any lawful 
occupation, and whether such occupation is a real one 
or merely a pretence for facilitating the commission 
of offences ; 
(iii) the suitability+of the area to which his 
movements arc to be restricted ; 
(iv) the manner in which it is proposed that 
he should earn his living in such area, and the adequacy 
of the arrangements therefor. 
4 
7. The Government may, by notification, cancel Power to ! 'any declaration made under section 6 or alter any area cancel or 
notified under that section or this section ; and the alter such 
D District Magistrate may, by order in writing, alter any are2 notified under section 6 or this section into 
any other area situated in his district : I 
Provided that before issuing any such notification 
or order, the Government or the District Magistrate 
shall considc.1- the ma!ters referred to in section 6, sub- 
scctiol~ (2), in so fiiras theymaybeapplicable. 
I 
power to 11. (1) The Government may make rules to carry 
makc rul*. out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and withom prejudice to rhe 
generality of the foreg3ing power, such rules may 
provide for or regulate- 
(a) all matters required or allowed by this 
Act to be prescribed ; 
the manner and method of service of 
notification on the notified offender concerned;] 
(b) the restrictions to be observed by notified 
offenders in respect of whom notifications or orders 
have been issued under section 6 or section 7 ; 
(c) the grant of' cxtificates of identity to noti- 
liec1 offenders, and the inspection of such c~rtificates ; 
(d) the conditions under which notified offend- 
4-rs may be pzrmittcd to leave the area to which their 
movements are restricted or the places in which they 
~r-, settled ; 
(e) the inspzction of the rccidences of noti- 
fied offenders ; 
(f) the terms upon which notified offeilders 
may be discharged from the operation of this Act ; 
(g) thc management and supervision of settle- 
ments including the discipline and conduct of the 
persons placed in them ; 
(h) the periodical review of the cases of all 
persons who have been placed in my settlerrent uvde. 
this Act. 
(4) 411 notifications issued under this Act shall, 
unless they are express to come into force on a 
particular day, come int force on the day on which 
they are published. 
f 
(5) Every rule made or notitication issued as 
soon as possible, after ir is made, or issued, be placed 
on the table of both Houses of thc Legislature, and 
if, before the expiry of the session. in which it is so 
. placed or the next session, both Hou3t.s agree in making 
any modification in nny such rule or notification or 
both Houses agree that the rule or t~otification should 
not be made or issued, the rule or notificatiorl shall 
thereafter llnve effect only in such modified Sot.ln 
or be of no effcct, :-ls tbe case may be, so Irowever, 
 hat any such modification or rinnulment shall be 
without prejudice to the validity ot'ilnything previously 
clone under that rule or notification.1 
12. Any 11o1i li~cl ~ffi'lldt'~ ~11~) c'o~~travt'tic~, ally pcllalties 
clT the p~.ovi\ions of this Act or' any notification, 
rule or ordcr madc t hereundei. slj:~ ll be punishable- 
(a) on a first conviction, with imprisonment 
for a term which 111 iy extend to six months, or with 
fine which may extend to tjvo hundred rupees, 
or with both ; ---- -, - -----c 
These sub-sections weresubstituted fob sub-section (3) by section 
5 (2) of the Tamil Nadu Restriction of Hnbitunl Offenders (Amclvi- 
meat) Act, 1975 (Tamil Nadu Act 55 of 1975). 
i 
- -- 
p---"-^--""--- -.-- -~*-a 
":5T'wXw \ % &$y?3 - '?+ : " \.?$ 
Rbtriction of Habitual 11948: T.N,Act V 
I Oflenders - 
(b) on a second or subseq~lent anviction, with 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one .. year, or with fine which may extend to five hundred 
rupees, or with both. 
hest of 13. If a notified, offender- ' 
rntified 
offenders. - (a) is found outside the area to which his move- 
ments have been restricted, in cont-zvention of the 
conditions under which he 1s permlttsd to leave such 
area, or 
(t) escapes from ally settlement In wlljch hc 
has been placed, 
he may be arrested witho~q warrant by any pnl.ct 
officer, village headman or village watchman. [If the offender is arrested, lie shall bt .nformed as soon 
as nlay b~, cf the grounds for sucli arrest and >hall 
bz produced b:for-c the nearcst Mngi:tratc with n ii 
p:ri~d of twenty-four hours cf such .It iztt. exclucii:1y 
th- Time necessa! y for thc Journey from the plncc 
of arrest to thr: C- urr of th~\ Mag ct12~1e ,ii\,l tJ~e offe~~dc~ 
shall not be d:t-rind be), )lid tllc stjd per;od withc)~tt 
tlx authwity of the Mnglstralc. Magisis::tc 
shall. 011 p~odliction of the offc~~drr ,ti~rl or1 p~oot 
of th: facts, order him 113 he remo~cd] to such 
or to such settlemezt, lllere to be tleitlr wltll 1n accoicl- 
:lr~ci. wllh i his Act and any I i~les 111:1rfe theici:l,tlc,. 
Rules fo~ 14. Evcry iaw 01. rule Lhr the tin~c. l'cir~g JII rt r3c 
fhem~ova) gokerning I he removal 01- 111 isoners hI1,11I applj I\ . il 
I of priionerr 
1 to aqply i~ persons o~lcred to he placed L 11 :I sttrlen~ent II 11<1r I 
I artam sectmn 8 or to !,e removcd rlnde~ sr~.tion 13 : 
d8W. 
Provided that nt/ order fronl t l~e Governn~e~ri 
or the Inspector-General 01 Prjbo~lh- '-1l:l I1 be necesssl j 
for the removal of such persons. 
, 
--I - - -- _ _ - -- -_II-- - 
1 TI cse words were substilu~cd fo (hc words "and token 
before a Mag~stratc who, on proof of the facts, shall order him 
to be rrmovd" k the Adaptation (Amendment) Order of 19)t. 
\ 
1948 : I.N. Act VI] Hestriction of Habitual ' 1065 
0fSend~r.s 
15. No Court Shall question th+va!idity of any Bar of 
notification (other than one under section ?), or jurisdiction. 
order, issued under this Act. 
' [IS-A, (I) No suit, grcsec~\tion or cther legal Protectionof 
pr~ceeding shall iie againat any ozrson for an) thing taken 
in good faith. which is In good f~ith dclrle 91 intendcd to be done 
in pursua~~ce of this Act or i111y rule rnnde thereunder. 
I (2) No suit 01 yll~zs Icgal proceeding shall lie against the Govc:nmcnt for any damage ca !I sed 
o: likely io be caused by ,lnything which IS in good 
fkith done 01. intended to be done In pulsuancc of 
this Act or any rule made thereunder. 
15-B. ( I) The Govel.n~ncnt may: !,jr nnti fic:ition, ;''';'nefdto - amend the Schedule. Schedule. 
(2) Ally reference n1::di: i 11 this Act to the Schcclulc 
shall be considered as relating to thc Schedule a> for 
the time being amended in clercisc of the powers 
conferred by sub-section (I).] 
<'entrii I 16. (1) In respect of e~ery person P ho stood Effet3f 
~~~~1 sc::istered under the Criinilvl Trrbcs ,4-1. 19?,4* (hrre- ~~~J!~ 
i:lnfter in this sectiqn referred to as the said Act) pa?sed untler 
;it the commencement of this Act and who, within a Crlmlnal 
p-~.iod of five years immediately preceding such Tribes Act, 
1924,et c. 
c!, rnmencement, had been either ordered to give 
:*c;*;urity for good behaviour with reference to section 
li0 of "the Code of Crimir)al Procedurc, 13731 -- - 
1 These sections were il~serted by section 6 of the Tamil Nadu 
llcslriction of Habitual Offel~ders (Amendment) Act, 1975 (Tamil 
Nadt~ Act 55 of 1975). 
2 This expression was sub8tituted for: the expression " the,Codc 
of Crtrniual Procedure, 1898 (Central Act V of 1898)" by sectron 7, 
ihid. i 
"rbis Act has been re aled by the Crhinal Tribes Lswa ( 
M, I952 (Central Act &V of 1952). ; 
(2) Ewry no ti fication issued in respect of any 
person under section 3 of the Madras Restriction of 
Habitmi Offenders Act, 1943,* and in force at the - 
comrnencenlent of this Act, shall be deemed to have ofI943. 
been issued under ~ection 3, sub-section (I), of this Act, 
a11 references in that notificatioll to the provisions 
of the said Act and the rules made under it being 
construed ns references to the corresponding pto- 
visions of this Act and tllc I-L~!~s made under it. 
(3) Any notificatic)n or order issved or made 
11ndcr thc >.\id i\ct in ~.cspect of ally person referred 
to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), and in fol-ct. 
at the comtnencemellt of this Act, restricti~lg the 
movements of such person or placing him in a settle- 
ment slyall bc deemed to have been issued or made 
11 ncler this Act. 
(4) All b-ttlemenls cstabiisllcd under section 
16 of the haid Act and cristing at tllc comme~~ce~nent 
of this Act shall be deemed to have been cstab!ished 
under 8,ection 8 of lI1i5 ~ct. 
--- - 
1 Sections 17 and 18 were repealed by section 2 of, ad the %st . 
Schedute to, the TadlSLflailadu Repealing and Amnendtng Act, 1952'1 * 
(Tjmil N~du hct qpf 1952). 
l'l& Act has b& repealed by wtioa 17 of theT 
tricrioo of rfabitualOftcndcrs Act, l%S(TamiLNadu 
*-.--~'"-".**.*= .-..w s ,.-*.." ,* **' *a*4-*- > 
-..*.... .- 
W- . . , ,e; T* s.9 
I, 
. . l[TH,E SCHEDULE. 
[See section 2 (7-A). 1 
Offences under the Indian Penal Code. 
CHAPTER X1T. 
SECTIONS: 
23 1. Counterfeiting cch 11. 
232. Counterfeiting Indian coiu. 
233. Making or selling instrument for counter- 
feiting coin. 
234. Making or selling instrumciit for collnte - 
fciting Indian coin 
235. Possessioll of instrument or niaterjal lo1 the 8 
purpose of using the same for counter- 
feiting coin. 
239. Delivery of coin possessed with knowledge 
that it is counterfeit. 
240. Delivery of Indian coj~l possessed w i~ li know- 
ledge that it is cotlnterfeit. 
242. Possession of counterfeit coin by pcrson who 
knew it to be counterfeit when he became 
possessed thereof. 
243. Possession of Indian, coin by person who 
knew it to be counterfeit when he became 
possessed thereof. 
----- 
I a 
i 
I 
CHAPTER XVI. *- 
304. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 
307. Attempt to murder. 
308. Attempt to commit culpable homicide. 
31 1. Being a thug. 
324. Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous wea- 
pons or means. 
I 325. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt. 
1 326. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dacgerous 
weapons or means. 
I 327. Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, 
I 
1, 
or to constrain to an illegal act. 
328. Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with 
intent to commit an offence. 
329. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort 
, property, or to constrain to an illegal act. I 
332. Volu~itarily causing hurt to deter public servant 
from his duty. I 
333. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to tlelcr 
public servant from his duty, I 
347. Wrongf~ll confillernent to extort property, 
or constrain to illegal act. I 
363A. Kidnapping or maiming a minor for pur- 
poses of begging, 
365. Kidnapping or abductillg with intent secrctly # 
and wrongfully to confine person. 
V: 366A. Procuration of minor girl. X 
366B. Importation of girl from foreign country. 
ig or keeping in con- 
ed or abducted person. 
~lcting child ilnder ten 
+to steal from its person. 
:.& 
1069 
CHAPTER XVII. 
~ECTIONS : 
379. Theft. 9 
380. Theft in dwelling house, eic. 
I 
382. Theft after preparation made for causing 
death, hurt or restraint in order to the com- 
mitting of the theft. 
I 384. Extortion. 
385. Putting person in fear of injury in order to 
commit extorkon. 
386. Extortion by putting a person in fear of death 
or grievous hurt. 
387, Putting person in fear of death or of grievous 
hurt, in order to commit extortion. 
392. Robbery. 
4 
393. Attempt to commit robbery. - 
394. Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery. 
395. Dacoi ty. 
397. Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause 
death or grievous hurt. 
398. Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when 
armed with deadly weapon. 
399. Making preparation to commit dacoity. 
400. Belonging to gang of dacoits. 
401. Belonging to gang of thieves. 
402. Assembling for purpose of committil~g dacoity, 
1 41 1. Dishonestly receiving stolen property. 
414. Assisting in concealment of stolen property. 
451. House-trespass in order to commit offence 
punishable with ipprisonment. 
7 V , -9": - " ""&. -t, 4. , 9" #% 
,+? -7 
5>.' ,' ? .* 
&&ti&'&~~$i1[~~i~+[$94s: T.N. Act 'VI 
Offders 
SECTIONS : 
452. House-trespass after preparaticmn- for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint. 
I F- 453. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking. 
454. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in 
order to commit offence punishable with 
imprisonment. 
455. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after 
preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful 
restraint. 
456. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by 
night. 
I - 
457. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by 
night in order to commit offence punishable 
with imprisonment. 
458. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by 
night after preparation for hurt, assault or 
wrongful restraint. 
459. Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurk- 
ing house-trespass or house-breaking. 
460. All persons jointly concerned in lurking house- 
trespass or house-breaking by night punish- 
abl; bvliere death or grievous hurt caused 
by one of them. 
Oflence urlder the Suppression of Immoral Traffic 
in Women and Girls Act, 1956. - 
6 
4. Living on the earnings of prostitution.] 

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