Selvakumar @ Murugesan v. The Deputy Inspector General of Prison

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by G.R.Swaminathan, J.) Heard both sides.

¶2The writ petitioner is a life convict undergoing sentence in Central Prison, Salem. He has already undergone 22 years of incarceration. He applied for 40 days ordinary leave and it was also granted by the first respondent, but, with a condition that he will be accompanied by police escort. Challenging the said condition, this writ petition came to be filed.

¶3During the earlier hearing, it was submitted by learned Government counsel that the first respondent had stipulated the said condition only taking into account the petitioner's safety. It was submitted that since a temple festival was to be held, it will not be safe for the petitioner to be present during the Page3 of 4 conduct of the event. We adjourned the matter to enable the respondents to get better instructions.

¶4Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Government counsel submitted that the temple festival was over in the month of April itself.

¶5We are, therefore, of the view that the impugned order of the first respondent stipulating the condition that the petitioner should be accompanied by police escort can be deleted and it is, accordingly, deleted. However, the petitioner shall report before the 4th respondent police daily at 7.00 p.m. during the period when he is on ordinary leave. The other conditions hold good. The petition is, accordingly, disposed of. (G.R.S., J.) (V.L.N., J.) 29-05-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order sra Page4 of 4

G.R.Swaminathan, J. and

V.Lakshminarayanan, J.

(sra) To

¶1The Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Office of the Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Coimbatore Zone, Covai Central Prison Campus, Coimbatore District.

¶2The Superintendent of Prison, Salem Central Prison,Salem District.

¶3The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Salem District.

¶4The Inspector of Police, Mechari Police Station, Mettur, Salem District.

29.05.2026

Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29-05-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN Selvakumar @ Murugesan … Petitioner -vs- 1. The Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Office of the Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Coimbatore Zone, Covai Central Prison Campus, Coimbatore District. 2. The Superintendent of Prison, Salem Central Prison, Salem District. 3. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Salem District. 4. The Inspector of Police, Mechari Police Station, Mettur, Salem District. … Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records connected with the impugned order No.330/Kc /2026 dated 08.04.2026 issued by respondent No.1 and quash the same as illegal, consequently to direct the respondents to release the petitioner namely Selvakumar @ Murugesan (Life Convict Page2 of 4 Prisoner, PID No.3185) Son of Chinnanan @ Ramasamy aged about 50 years who is now confined at Salem Central Prison, from the prison on the ordinary leave for 40 days without escort in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Prakash For Respondents : Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Counsel for Govt. of Tamil Nadu (Crl. Side). * * *