Under Section 10, what mechanism ensures the validity of detention?

• A. Habeas corpus or similar mechanism.
• B. A public inquiry.
• C. A court of appeal review.
• D. A police oversight board.

Answer: (A)

Habeas corpus is the mechanism that ensures detention is lawful by forcing a court to review the detention’s validity. When someone is arrested or detained, Section 10 guarantees they can have the validity of that detention determined by habeas corpus (or an equivalent remedy), and the court can order release if the detention isn’t lawful. This provides an immediate judicial check on police power and protects against unlawful confinement. Other options serve different purposes—public inquiries explore public matters, court of appeal reviews assess legal errors in decisions, and a police oversight board scrutinizes police conduct—none of which directly affirm the continued legality of an individual’s detention.