THANIKKACHALAM, J.

S. Balamurugan, M. Natarajan and Ramar alias Ramaswamy, the petitioners in these habeas corpus petition, have filed these petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for a declaration that their detention in the Central Prison, Cuddalore is illegal and to direct their retransfer to Central Prison, Palayamkottai

2. The brief facts are as follows :- The petitioners are life convicts serving their term of sentence, after their appeals before the High Court were dismissed. The petitioners were originally lodged in the Central Prison, Palayamkottai. The petitioner in H.C.P. No. 1194 of 1995 had undergone 8 years of imprisonment at Central Prison, Palaymakkottai i.e. from 16-7-1986 to 18-4-1994 and then transferred to Central Prison, Cuddalore on 19-4-1994 and again on 2-1-1995, he was transferred back to Palayamkottai and once again re-transferred to Cuddalore Prison on 5-2-1995 against his consent and will. Likewise, the petitioner in H.C.P. No. 1135 of 1995 had undergone ten years of imprisonment in the Central Prison, Palayamkkottai i.e. from 16-1-1985 to 1-4-1995 and on 2-4-1995 he was transferred to Central Prison, Cuddalore. The p