IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 21-01-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.Crl. No. 63 of 2026 and W.P.MP.CRL.No. 16 of 2026 R.Saraswathi W/o.Radha Krishnan ..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The State rep.by its, The Home Secretary (Prison)

Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-019.

2. The Director General of Prison Office of the Director General of Prison, Egmore-600 008.

3. The Superintendent of Prison Central Prison at Salem, Hasthampatti, Salem-636 007.

..Respondent(s)

Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying to issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order dated 19.12.2025 in file No.CP-SLM/1014/2025- R4(JA) CP-SLM/1014/2025-R4(JA) passed by the 3^rd respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the 3^rd respondent to grant 30 days leave without escort to the husband of the petitioner/convict namely D.Radha Krishnan S/o.Duraisamy, Life Convict Prisoner, (PID No.34149) (CT No.0631)

aged about 54 years now confined in Salem Central Prison.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.A.Rajakumar For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor assisted by Mr.M.Sylvester John

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by P.VELMURUGAN J.)

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated

19.12.2025 in file No.CP-SLM/1014/2025-R4(JA)CP-SLM/1014/2025-R4(JA) passed by the 3^rd respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently to direct the 3^rd respondent to grant 30 days’ leave without escort to the husband of the petitioner/convict namely D.Radha Krishnan S/o.Duraisamy, Life Convict Prisoner, (PID No.34149) (CT No.0631), aged about 54 years, now confined in the Central Prison, Salem.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner’s husband namely D.Radha Krishnan, S/o.Duraisamy, who was convicted for the offences under Sections 302 and 341 IPC and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by the learned I Additional Sessions Judge, Salem in S.C.No.206 of 2010, has already undergone more than 10 years of imprisonment with no adverse remarks whatsoever. It is further submitted that the life convict prisoner had earlier availed emergency leave without escort and duly reported back to the prison authorities within time, without any violation or adverse report. While so, the petitioner, being the wife of the convict prisoner submitted a representation dated 27.11.2025, seeking ordinary leave for the purpose of solemnising their daughter's marriage. However, the third respondent by the impugned order rejected the said representation solely on the ground that another criminal case is pending against the life convict prisoner. Hence, the present writ petition.

3. Per contra, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents submitted that a criminal case is pending against the life convict prisoner in S.C.No.58 of 2013 on the file of the II Additional District Court, Salem and that the trial in the said case has already commenced. He further submitted that as per Rule 35 of the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982, no prisoner against whom a criminal case is pending trial is entitled to be granted leave. Therefore, the third respondent has rightly rejected the representation of the petitioner seeking ordinary leave for the convict prisoner. He further submitted that the marriage of the petitioner’s daughter is scheduled to be solemnised on 28.01.2026.

4. A perusal of the records, it is seen that the petitioner’s husband/life convict prisoner/A1 is facing trial in another criminal case in S.C.No.58 of 2013 on the file of the II Additional District Court, Salem, for the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC. Inasmuch as the life convict prisoner is facing trial in a pending case, he is not entitled for any leave as per Rule 35 of the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982. If ordinary leave without escort