Sandhya Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Sandhya Vs The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the first respondent to dispose the petitioner's representation dated 26.02.2026 seeking 60 days furlough for her husband, in accordance with the extant rules and guidelines including the Tamil Nadu Prisons (Release on Furlough) Rules, 2026, within three weeks from the date of the order.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing the respondents to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 26.02.2026 seeking grant of 60 days furlough to her husband, a convict prisoner in Central Prison-1, Puzhal.

Court's answer

The writ petition was disposed with a direction to the first respondent (Principal Secretary, Home Department) to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 26.02.2026 in accordance with the extant rules and guidelines, including the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prisons (Release on Furlough) Rules, 2026.

Ratio / Principle

The disposal of the representation is to be completed within a period of three (3) weeks from the date of the order.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (Neutral Citation: 2026:MHC:1430) — WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026, decided 09-04-2026 (Dr. Justice Anita Sumanth, authoring the Order of the Court, and Justice Sunder Mohan). Sandhya, wife of convict prisoner Sampath S/o Paneer Selvam (PID No.34363, Central Prison-1, Puzhal), filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to dispose of her representation dated 26.02.2026 seeking grant of 60 days furlough to her husband. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor accepted notice and stated that the representation was under consideration and would be disposed within three weeks. Recording that submission, the Court disposed of the writ petition, directing the first respondent to dispose of the representation dated 26.02.2026 in accordance with the extant rules and guidelines, including the Tamil Nadu Prisons (Release on Furlough) Rules, 2026, within three weeks from the date of the order. No precedent was cited or relied upon.

2026:MHC:1430

WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN

WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

Sandhya age (51) W/o Sambath, No.73/6, Venkatesapuram, New Colony Main Road, Kannikapuram, Chennai.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Home Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

The Head of Prison Department, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

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 Mandamus directing to the Petitioner’s representation dated 26.02.2026 from the Respondents and directing the Respondents to grant

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WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

60 days Furlough to the petitioner’s husband Sampath S/o Paneer Selvam, Convict Prisoner, Pid No.34363, Central Prison-1, Puzhal.

For Petitioner(s): Ms.S.Nadhiya For Respondent(s): Mr. R. Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor Assisted By Mr. M. Sylvester John

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by Dr.Anita Sumanth J.)

The petitioner seeks a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to dispose petitioner’s representation dated 26.02.2026 seeking grant of 60 days Furlough to her husband Sampath S/o Paneer Selvam, Convict Prisoner, presently confined in Central Prison-1, Puzhal.

Mr. R. Muniyapparaj, learned Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr. M. Sylvester John, learned counsel, who accepts notice for the respondents accedes to the receipt of representation dated 26.02.2026 and states that the same is under consideration of the authorities, who will dispose the same within a period of three (3) weeks from today.

Recording the aforesaid submission, this Writ Petition is disposed. There is a direction to R1 to dispose the petitioner’s representation dated 26.02.2026 in accordance with the extant rules and guidelines, including the

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WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prisons (Release on Furlough) Rules, 2026,

within a period of three (3) weeks from today.

(A.S.M.,J.) (S.M.,J.) 09-04-2026

sl Index: Yes/No Speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes

To

1.The Principal Secretary, Home Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Head of Prison Department, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison-I, Puzhal, Chennai-600 066.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

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WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

DR.ANITA SUMANTH J.

AND

SUNDER MOHAN J.

sl

WP Crl. No. 774 of 2026

09-04-2026

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