Manikandan v. The Secretary To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 21.08.2024 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN W.P. No.24169 of 2024 and W.M.P. No.26424 of 2024 Manikandan Petitioner vs.

The Secretary to Government Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Internal Security) North Block New Delhi 110 001 The Additional Secretary to Government (Home) Government of Puducherry Chief Secretariat Gubert Avenue Puducherry 605 001 The Director General of Police O/o the Director General of Police No.4, Dumas Street Puducherry 605 001 The Chief Superintendent Central Prison Kalapet Puducherry 605 001 Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents, more particularly the fourth respondent, to remove the CCTV camera installed in the prison cell of the petitioner in Kalapet Central Prison wherein the petitioner is

confined as Life Convict No.76 and consequently, direct the fourth respondent to confine the petitioner in a common cell of life convicts of the Central Prison, Kalapet, Puducherry.

For petitioner Mr. Xavier Felix For respondents Mr. K.S. Mohan Dass Public Prosecutor (Pondy) assisted by Mrs. N. Dhanalatchumi

ORDER

The petitioner who is a life convict confined in the Central Prison in Kalapet, Puducherry, is before this Court alleging that he has been kept in solitary confinement and his privacy is affected by the CCTV camera installed in his cell.

2.

Today, when this writ petition was taken up for hearing, the learned Public Prosecutor (Pondy) reported that the petitioner is neither kept in solitary confinement nor CCTV camera has been installed in his cell.

3.

In the opinion of this Court, the general movement of the petitioner is monitored by the CCTV camera and the petitioner cannot have any objection for installation of CCTV camera inside the prison. It

is, in fact, only for the safety and security of the inmates of the prison that CCTV camera is installed and the motive of the petitioner seeking removal of CCTV camera is obvious.

Since the petitioner's claim is an utter falsehood and his prayer to remove CCTV camera does not hold water, this writ petition stands dismissed, however, sans costs. Connected W.M.P. stands closed. 21.08.2024 cad

DR. G. JAYACHANDRAN, J.

cad To:

The Secretary to Government Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Internal Security) North Block New Delhi 110 001 The Additional Secretary to Government (Home) Government of Puducherry Chief Secretariat Gubert Avenue Puducherry 605 001 The Director General of Police O/o the Director General of Police No.4, Dumas Street Puducherry 605 001 The Chief Superintendent Central Prison Kalapet Puducherry 605 001 The Public Prosecutor Puducherry 21.08.2024