Madurai, Nov 8 The Madras High Court has directed the Superintendent of Palayamkottai Central Prison to grant six days of emergency leave without police escort to a convict prisoner after considering the health of his parents and his good conduct.
A Division Bench of Justices M Nirmal Kumar and N Gunasekaran considered the good conduct of the prisoner while hearing a writ petition from his mother and noted her plea expressing inability to bear expenses towards police escort and also the submission requesting the presence of her son to provide moral and emotional support.
“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly, the medical condition of the convict prisoner’s parents, the good conduct of the convict prisoner and the fact that he had earlier availed leave without escort, this court is of the view that the request for six days of emergency leave in one spell deserves consideration,” the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court said.
V Selvi, the petitioner, the mother of V Arul Perumal, the convict prisoner submitted a representation to authorities seeking six days of emergency leave without escort for her son.
However, the Superintendent of Central Prison, Palayamkottai, by the impugned order, granted only three days of leave and it was also with police escort.
Against this background, the petitioner submitted that her son had earlier availed leave without escort. He maintained good conduct and has not come to any adverse notice of the prison authorities. Further, the petitioner is not in a position to bear the expenses towards police escort.
It was also submitted that the petitioner’s husband, the father of the prisoner, is an elderly gentleman suffering from age-related ailments.
The petitioner herself had met with an accident and sustained a fracture, for which she requires medical treatment.
In such circumstances, the presence of her son is very much necessary to provide moral and emotional support to his parents.
Hence, she sought six days of emergency leave for her son without escort. In support of her contentions, the petitioner enclosed a medical certificate.
The Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the convict prisoner is eligible for emergency leave and that he has already been granted three days of leave with police escort.
After hearing both sides, the High Court directed the Superintendent of Central Prison, Palayamkottai, to grant six days of emergency leave without escort to Arul Perumal.
“During the said leave period, the convict prisoner shall report before the second respondent (Alangulam Police Inspector, Tenkasi District) every day at 05.30 pm, without fail,” the High Court said in its order dated November 5, 2026.
On completion of the leave period, the convict prisoner shall report to the Palayamkottai Central Prison without fail.
“The impugned order dated October 27, 2026 is modified by extending the period of leave from three days to six days and dispensing with the requirement of police escort,” the court held.
(PTI News)
