Mahalakshmi v. The Home Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.02.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA and WMP(Crl.)MD No.239 of 2026 Mahalakshmi ... Petitioner -vs1.The Home Secretary Home Department (Prison) Secretariat,St. George Fort Chennai - 9.

2.The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Madurai Region,Madurai.

3.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison,Palayamkottai 4.The Inspector Of Police Ettayapuram Police Station Thoothukudi 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 proceedings in No.3628/Tha.ku.2/2025 (LCT, PID No.29143) Manikandan, S/o.Innasimuthu, issued by the third respondent dated 02.02.2026 quash the same and consequently direct the third respondent to grant six days emergency

leave without escort to the petitioner's son Manikandan, S/o.Innasimuthu, PID No.29143.

For Petitioner :

Mr.P.M.Basil For Respondents :

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 in No.3628/Tha.ku.2/2025 dated 02.02.2026 and direct the direct the third respondent to grant six days emergency leave without escort to the petitioner's son Manikandan, S/o.Innasimuthu, PID No.29143.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that her son was convicted by the learned Sessions Judge, Fast Track Mahila Court, Thoothukudi in S.C. No.18 of 2014 on 02.03.2016 and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment. Aggrieved over the same, the convict has also preferred an appeal before this Court in Crl.A(MD) No.124 of 2016 and the same was dismissed by this Court. The petitioner submitted an application seeking emergency leave for a period of 6 days. After considering the request made by the petitioner, the third respondent granted emergency leave to the convict with escort.. The petitioner being a poor person could not afford the cost for escorts.

3. In view of the above, the condition imposed in the order dated 02.02.2026 directing the convict to go on emergency leave with escort is modified and the convict shall go on emergency leave without escort. However, the convict is directed to comply with the usual conditions imposed by the jail authorities and he should also report before the fourth respondent police daily at 05.30 p.m. till the completion of leave period. 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 02.02.2026 is quashed in sofar as the ordering escort alone and the Writ Petition is disposed of. Consequently connected miscellaneous petition stands closed. Further if the convict causes any disturbance to his wife the fourth respondent is directed to take appropriate action.

[G.K.I., J.] [R.P., J.] 18.02.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No aav

To:

1.The Home Secretary Home Department (Prison) Secretariat,St. George Fort Chennai - 9.

2.The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Madurai Region,Madurai.

3.The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison,Palayamkottai 4.The Inspector Of Police Ettayapuram Police Station Thoothukudi District

5. The Additional Public Prosecutor Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN , J.

and R.POORNIMA , J.

aav 18.02.2026