Lalitha v. The Home Secretary,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 07-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN AND WPMP CRL. NO. 227 OF 2025 Lalitha W/o.Raja, Residing at AP 837, G Block, New No.9, 16th Street, Belly Area, Anna Nagar, Chennai-600 040.
..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Home Secretary, Home Department (Prison), Secretariat, For St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Inspector General of Prisons, Prison Head Quarters, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
3. The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison I, Puzhal, Chennai-600 066.
..Respondent(s)
Prayer:
Writ petition filed under article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus or order or direction in the nature of Writ, calling for the records relating to the proceedings by the 3rd respondent dated 07.07.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the 3rd respondent to grant 28 days ordinary leave without escort to petitioners husband Raja, S/o.Mannangkatti, Convict No.10020, PID No.63939, who is currently confined at the Central Prison-I, Puzhal, Chennai. For Petitioner(s):
Mr.P.M.Basil For Respondent(s):
Mr.R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.Sylvester John
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by Dr.Anita Sumanth J.) The petitioner is wife of one Raja, S/o.Mannangkatti, confined at Central Prison -1, Puzhal, Chennai, has approached this Court challenging order dated 07.07.2025 rejecting the request for ordinary leave for the convict.
2. The reason described in the impugned order of detention was that the petitioner had not completed three years of detention at the relevant point in time.
3. Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the respondents states that the date of conviction being 04.05.2023, the convict will complete three years on 03.05.2026.
4. That date being around the corner, we dispose this writ petition granting twenty one (21) days ordinary leave without escort commencing from 04.05.2026, on the following conditions:
(i) Respondents are directed to release the Convict Prisoner viz., Raja, S/o.Mannangkatti, confined at Central Prison-I, Puzhal, Chennai on Ordinary Leave for a period of 21 days i.e., from 04.05.2026 to 24.05.2026. (ii) The Convict Prisoner shall be released on 04.05.2026 at 10.00 am and he shall surrender before the Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison-I, Puzhal, Chennai on 25.05.2026 before 10.30 a.m.
(iii) The Convict Prisoner is directed to report before the Inspector of Police, V-5 Thirumangalam Police Station every alternate day at 10.30 a.m., during the period of leave.
(iv) The Convict Prisoner shall utilize the leave only for the ground on which it has been granted and shall not indulge in any other activities.
Connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
(A.S.M.,J.) (S.M.,J.) 07-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order mpl
DR.ANITA SUMANTH J.
AND SUNDER MOHAN J.
mpl To
1. The Home Secretary, Home Department (Prison), Secretariat, For St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Inspector General of Prisons, Prison Head Quarters, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
3. The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison I, Puzhal, Chennai-600 066.
4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
AND WPMP CRL. NO. 227 OF 2025 07-04-2026