Madras HC grants Tamil Nadu 2 months for report on 66 prisoner deaths
The report showed that out of 165 cases in which reports have been received, the state government has passed final orders in respect of 70 cases.
Chennai: The Madras High Court granted two months time to the state government to complete the process of getting reports on the death of 66 remand / convicted prisoners and pass appropriate orders.
When a PIL from K Kesavan, which sought a direction to the Home Secretary to hold judicial inquiry into the death of prisoners between 2012 and 2013 came up for hearing before the First Bench on Friday, the member secretary of Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority filed a report showing the progress made by the government into the issue in two months.
The report showed that out of 165 cases in which reports have been received, the state government has passed final orders in respect of 70 cases and the remaining 95 cases were under process. In respect of 66 cases, reports have not been received.
After perusing the report, the bench put a query to the government pleader as to how much time the remaining 66 cases of remand prisoners' deaths dealt with by the public department (40 cases) and convict prisoners death dealt with by the Home department (26) cases, be over. The government pleader requested two months time. Granting the time, the bench posted the matter to December 9 for reporting compliance.