The court to which the application is presented shall immediately grant a writ of habeas corpus, unless it appears by the petition itself or by the documents annexed to it that the person in custody is not entitled to be set at liberty. The writ may issue at any time on any day, in term time or vacation, and shall fix the place and time for the answer, which shall be as early as practicable, and shall not exceed seventy-two hours from the time of the issuance of the writ.
Amended by Acts 1968, No. 139, §1; Acts 1980, No. 429, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.