Anitha v. The Superintendent of Central Prison

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR Anitha D/o Jagadis, No.16, Ghagot Alawlpur Post, Palwal District. Haryana State. ..Petitioner(s) in both the petitions Vs The Superintendent of Central Prison, Central Prison Puzhal - I, Chennai . ..Respondent(s) in CRL.OP.No.9250 of 2026

¶1The Director General of Prisons, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

¶2The Superintendent Police, Puzhal Central Prison-I, Chennai 600 066. ..Respondent(s) in CRL.OP.No.9250 of 2026 Page2 of 6 Prayer in CRL OP No.9250 of 2026: To direct the respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 23.02.2026 to provide A class facilities, North Indian food particularly food of chapathi, dhal and vegetables, Potato, Tomato, Cauliflower, Greenchilli to secure ends of justice and pass such further or other orders. Prayer in CRL OP No.9255 of 2026: To direct the respondent to retain the life convict Jagadis s/o. Ranjith Singh Convict No.1874 in Central Prison-I Puzhal, Chennai 66. For Petitioner(s): Mr.A.Ramesh For Respondent(s): Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Additional Public Prosecutor COMMON ORDER These Criminal Original Petitions have been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to retain the life convict, namely, Jagadis s/o. Ranjith Singh Convict No.1874 in Central Prison-I Puzhal, Chennai 66 and also to provide A-class facilities, including North Indian food such as chapathi, dhal and vegetables. Page3 of 6

¶2The petitioner is the daughter of the said Jagadis, a life convict presently confined in Central Prison, Vellore. The contention of the petitioner is that her father Jagadis, being a native of North India, is accustomed to the food habit of eating chapati. During the period when he was an under trial prisoner, he had approached this Court in Crl.O.P.No.8017 of 2017 and by order dated

28.04.2017, this Court directed the prison authorities to provide him with chapati, dhal and vegetables. However, after conviction, preference of food was not mentioned, hence, he has been provided with regular rice based meals.

¶3The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the said Jagadis is a notorious criminal involved in the Bawaria case and he has been convicted and confined in Central Prison, Vellore. The case against the said Jagadis is that he along with other accused persons from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan came to Tamil Nadu and committed brutal murder and theft. He further submitted that the special food and other privileges are provided only to A-class prisoners, subject to eligibility. He also placed on record a communication from the Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison, Vellore, which is scanned and extracted hereunder: Page4 of 6 Page5 of 6

¶4In view of the above submissions, it is seen that the said Jagadis is a life convict confined in Central Prison, Vellore. The undisputed fact is that the said Jagadis is a North Indian and is accustomed to chapati based food. In such circumstances, the Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison, Vellore, is directed to provide North Indian chapati based food to the said Jagadis.

¶5With the above directions, both the Criminal Original Petitions are disposed of. 09-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order PVS To

¶1The Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison, Vellore

¶2The Superintendent of Central Prison Central Prison Puzhal - I, Chennai.

¶3The Director General of Prisons, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

¶4The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras. Page6 of 6

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J. PVS 09-04-2026