THE HON’BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN WP No. 6248 of 2026 Tamilazhagan ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Prison Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009 2. The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Whannels Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008 3. The Superintendent of prisons, Central prison-I, Puzhal, Chennai-600 066 4. The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON’BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN
WP No. 6248 of 2026
Tamilazhagan
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary
to Government, Prison Department,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai-600 009
2. The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons
Whannels Road,
Egmore, Chennai-600 008
3. The Superintendent of prisons,
Central prison-I,
Puzhal, Chennai-600 066
4. The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services
Authority,
Represented by its Member Secretary, Having office at Gate No.6, North Fort Road, High Court Campus, Chennai – 600 104.
(R4 suo motu impleaded vide order dated
27.02.2026 made in WP.6248/2026)
..Respondent(s)
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 12.01.2026 and consequently direct the respondents to give 9 shifts for advocate interview with inmates and allot more cabins in the Puzhal Prison-1, Chennai as the very same facilities granted by the Puzhal Prison-2, Chennai.
For Petitioner(s): Ms. S.Nadhiya
For Respondent(s): Mr. M.Dinesh
Government Advocate (Criminal Side) for R1 to R3.
Mr. Arun Anbumani
Standing Counsel for R4.
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by The Chief Justice)
This Public Interest Litigation has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 12.01.2026 and consequently direct the respondents to give 9 shifts for advocate interview with inmates and allot more cabins in the Puzhal Prison-1, Chennai as the very same facilities are granted by the Puzhal Prison-2, Chennai.
2. The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority was suo motu
impleaded in this writ petition as fourth respondent.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the fourth respondent submitted that the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority has conducted an inspection on 12.05.2026 and filed the report of the Member
Secretary.
4. Para 4 of the said Report reads as under:-
“4. Upon visiting the visitor cabins and having discussions with the Superintendent, Central Prison-[. Puzhal. and other Prison officials. the following information were ascertained and collected :
a. There were 831 convict prisoners and 424 remand prisoners lodged in Central Prison-I, Puzhal, as on the date of visit, i.e., 12-05-2026 (Tuesday).
b. There are 16 cabins provided for interview by
Advocates with the inmates, with partition in between them.
c. There are six shifts available from Monday to Friday and eight shifts on Saturday with the duration of half-an-hour each.
d. The shift timings are as under:
Shift Timing for Monday to Friday
Shift Reporting Time Interview start time Interview end time
1 12.50 pm 01.00 pm 01.30 pm
2 01.30 pm 01.40 pm 02.10 pm
3 02.10 pm 02.20 pm 02.50 pm
4 02.50 pm 03.00 pm 03.30 pm
5 03.30 pm 03.40 pm 04.10 pm
6 04.10 pm 04.20 pm
04.50 pm
Shift Timing for Saturday
Shift Reporting Time Interview start time Interview end time
1 10.50 pm 11.00 pm 11.30 pm
2 11.30 pm 11.40 pm 12.10 pm
3 12.10 pm 12.20 pm 12.50 pm
4 12.50 pm 01.00 pm 01.30 pm
5 01.30 pm 01.40 pm 02.10 pm
6 02.10 pm 02.20 pm 02.50 pm
7 02.50 pm 03.00 pm 03.30 pm
8 03.30 pm 03.40 pm 04.10 pm
* Slot booking for interview with the inmates are done by the Advocates either over phone (ten lines) prior to the date of interview or in person on the date of interview.
* On the date of visit. i.e., on 12-05-2026 (Tuesday) from 11.00 A.M. to 02.00 P.M., there were many slots still available for booking for the day (please see Annexure I).
* The data for the months of February, March, April and
May 2026 (upto 11-052026) shows that there were 1182, 1291, 1135 and 428 slots empty, indicating that there were no bookings for such slots by the Advocates for interview with the inmates (please see Annexure-I]).
* The available data suggests that presently adequate shifts and slots are in place for Advocates to interview the inmates at Central Prison-I, Puzhal.”
5. Learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 3 has filed counter affidavit and submitted that the respondents have already taken action to redress the grievance of the petitioner and decided to increase the slots from 6 to 8 which shall be implemented in short time.
6. In view of the report on the inspection conducted by the fourth respondent as well as the counter affidavit filed by respondents 1 to 3, the grievance of the petitioner stands addressed. Respondents 1 to 3 are directed to increase the slots as agreed at the earliest keeping in mind the grievance of the convict prisoners and allot more slots.
7. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs.
(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN J.)
30-06-2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No ssk
To
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to
Government,
Prison Department,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai-600 009
2. The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons
Whannels Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008
3. The Superintendent of prisons,
Central prison-I,
Puzhal, Chennai-600 066
4. The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services
Authority,
Represented by its Member Secretary, Having office at, Gate No.6, North Fort Road, High Court Campus, Chennai – 600 104. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.
AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.
ssk
WP No. 6248 of 2026
30-06-2026