K. Venkataraman, J.

The petitioner has come forward with the present writ petition for Mandamus directing the respondent to release the juveniles, who have been detained for more than three years in the Special Home for Boys, Vellore.

2. The short facts which led to the filing of the present writ petition are as follows:-

(a) The petitioner had worked in the State Bank of Travancore and on his retirement, he has involved in voluntary service in Ramana Kendra. He is a social activist, connected with the Government Special Home for Boys, in the capacity as Member, Home Welfare Committee. He has also involved with the Government Children Home for Boys, Ranipet and Government After Care Home for Women in Vellore and he visits these institutions frequently to interact and educate the inmates. In that capacity, he has filed the present writ petition in public interest to seek redressal from this Court regarding a common cause involving juveniles detained for more than three years.

(b) Recently, the petitioner has gone through the records of the Government Special Homes for Boys at Vellore and found that several juveniles have been kept in detention for more than three years in