3.Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners further submitted that when the departmental action was initiated against the petitioners, the petitioners were under the impression that since they are not solely responsible for the said incident, justice could be done by the respondents. But the victim's wife by name R.Thangam Karunya gave a representation to the State Human Rights Commission to take action against the persons responsible for the said incident. Learned counsel for the petitioners further submitted that the State Human Rights Commission, taking note of the said representation, by exercising its suo motu power, without even giving reasonable opportunity to the petitioners, had passed an order stating that it was the duty of the State to protect the life of the prisoners in the prison and as the prison officials had failed to do so, the State was vicariously liable for the death of the prisoner Ramesh for the violation of his human rights. However, the Commission, considering the report of the Investigation Wing of the Commission along with other documents, had observed that since the prisoner Ramesh was handed over to the jail administration as per law to produce him before the Court concerned as and when required, the jail authorities cannot escape from their liability for the death of the deceased Ramesh by taking the plea that he was killed by the co-prisoner and due to the lack of supervision and negligence on the part of the jail authorities, the innocent life of the prisoner was taken away. Finally, the Commission, coming to the conclusion that since the department had already initiated departmental proceedings against the petitioners under Rule 17(a) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, there is no need to pass any order against the petitioners, directed the State Government to pay a compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- to the victim R.Thangam Karunya, wife of Ramesh, residing at Door No.9/11, Ameer Sahib Street, Coimbatore.
