Sathish v. The State Of Tamilnadu, Rep. By Its Principal Secretary To Government,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 21/01/2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R. POORNIMA Sathish ... Petitioner -vs1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise (Prison-IV) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, O/o.Tamil Nadu Prisons Headquarters, Whannels Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
3.The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Trichy Range, Race Course Road, Trichy-620 023.
4.The Superintendent of Prison,
Central Prison, Trichy-620 020.
5.The Inspector of Police, Annavasal Police Station, Pudukkottai District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the third respondent vide his proceedings in No.ROTRY/530/2025-CA, dated 07.10.2025 and quash the same as illegal and void, consequently grant 21 days ordinary leave without police escort to the petitioner Sathish, S/o.Rethinam (Convict No.22995, P.I.C.No.161939) now confined at Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli, forthwith considering his representation dated 26.04.2025.
For Petitioner :
Mr.C.Karthikeyan For R1 to R4 :
Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.] The prayer in the petition is to quash the impugned order passed by the third respondent vide proceedings in No.RO-TRY/530/2025-CA, dated 07.10.2025 and direct the third respondent to grant 21 days ordinary leave
without escort to petitioner namely Sathish, S/o.Rethinam (Convict No.22995, P.I.C.No.161939) now confined at Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli, forthwith by considering the petitioner's representation, dated 26.04.2025.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that he has been convicted by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, Pudukkottai in S.C.No.165 of 2017, for the offences punishable under Sections 148, 341, 304(1) & 326 r/w 149 IPC and sentenced to undergo Life Imprisonment. Aggrieved by the said conviction and sentence, the petitioner has filed an appeal before this Court in Crl.A(MD).No.212 of 2019 and the said appeal was dismissed on 02.08.2022. The convict is eligible for Ordinary Leave for a period of 21 days as per the prison rules. The petitioner submitted an application seeking ordinary leave for for a period of 21 days. After considering the request made by the petitioner, the third respondent granted ordinary leave to the petitioner with escort. The petitioner is in prison and he could not afford cost for the escorts.
3. In view of the above, the condition imposed in the order dated 07.10.2025 directing the petitioner to go on ordinary leave with escort is modified and he shall go on ordinary leave without escort. However, the petitioner is directed to comply with the usual conditions imposed by the jail authorities and he should also report before the Inspector of Police, Annavasal Police Station, Pudukkottai District daily evening at 05.30 p.m. He shall duly comply with the conditions and return to the prison on expiry of the leave period.
4. Accordingly, the order of the third respondent dated 07.10.2025 is quashed in sofar as ordering escort alone and the Writ Petition is disposed of. [G.K.I., J.] [R.P., J.] 21/01/2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No am
To:
1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition & Excise (Prison-IV) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, O/o.Tamil Nadu Prisons Headquarters, Whannels Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
3.The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Trichy Range, Race Course Road, Trichy-620 023.
4.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Trichy-620 020.
5.The Inspector of Police, Annavasal Police Station, Pudukkottai District.
5. The Additional Public Prosecutor Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Madurai.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN , J.
and R. POORNIMA , J.
am 21/01/2026