R.Damodaran v. The State Represented By Its Home Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.05.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN R.Damodaran S/o.Ramasamy ....

Petitioner -vs1.

The State represented by its Home Secretary, Prison Department (IV) St.George Fort, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.

The Director General of Prison, Office of Director General of Prison, Gandhi Irwin Road, CMDA Building, Chennai - 600 008.

3.

The Superintendent of Prison, Office of the Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai - 66.

.... Respondents Prayer :

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, seeking direction to direct the 1st 1/4

respondent to prematurely release the convict prisoner/petitioner namely, R.Damodaran, Son of Ramasamy, CT.No.1051, P.I.D.4006, aged about 56 years in pursuance of the petitioner's representation dated 24.01.2026. For Petitioner :

Mr.P.Kannan For Respondents :

Mr.C.R.Malarvannan Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side)

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

) Heard both sides.

2. The petitioner was convicted for an offence under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment vide order dated 03.09.2007 in S.C.No.41 of 2006. The High Court dismissed the petitioner's criminal appeal in Criminal Appeal No.843 of 2007 on 10.07.2009 and the Hon'ble Supreme Court subsequently declined to interfere with the same. The petitioner has spent more than 14 years imprisonment. He seeks premature release on 24.01.2026.

3. The first respondent is directed to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 24.01.2026 on merits and in accordance with law, within a 2/4

period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. We make it clear that we have not gone into the merits of the matter.

4. The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. [G.R.S.,J.] [V.L.N.,J.] 27.05.2026 Index : Yes/No Speaking order / Non-speaking order ms/mk To 1.

The Home Secretary, Prison Department (IV) St.George Fort, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.

The Director General of Prison, Office of Director General of Prison, Gandhi Irwin Road, CMDA Building, Chennai - 600 008.

3.

The Superintendent of Prison, Office of the Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai - 66.

4.

The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

AND V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J.

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