Madras High Court
Administrative and Public LawCriminal Law

A life convict may be granted ordinary leave without escort for home repairs, subject to police reporting.

S. Kaviyapriya vs The Deputy Inspector General

Madras High CourtJUDGMENT: September 28, 20262 MIN READSOURCE JUDGMENT
A life convict may be granted ordinary leave without escort for home repairs, subject to police reporting.. S. Kaviyapriya vs The Deputy Inspector General. Madras High Court. LawLens
THE ORIGINAL LAWLENS SUMMARY
01

Facts

The petitioner challenged the first respondent’s order dated 3 September 2026 rejecting her request for 21 days’ ordinary leave without escort for her maternal grandmother, Chellammal, a life convict (PID No. 75300).

Source reference: p. 2

The request was made to enable Chellammal to attend to repairs to her dilapidated house; the rejection cited a threat to her life from members of the victim’s family.

Source reference: pp. 2–3

The petitioner also relied on earlier orders granting 21 days’ leave to five co-accused, during which no untoward incident was reported.

Source reference: pp. 3–4
02

Issues

1. Whether the petitioner’s maternal grandmother should be granted 21 days’ ordinary leave without escort despite the stated threat to her safety.

Source reference: pp. 2–4

2. Whether the circumstances relied on by the petitioner, including the condition of the house and the leave granted to co-accused, justified issuing directions for such leave.

Source reference: pp. 3–4
03

Law Applied

The judgment does not identify or apply a specific statutory provision, Jail Manual rule, or cited precedent as the basis for its decision.

Source reference: pp. 2–5

The Court relied on the circumstances of the case, including the stated need for repairs to the prisoner’s house and the fact that co-accused had received similar leave without reported incident.

Source reference: pp. 3–4

The Court’s directions required compliance with conditions prescribed in the Jail Manual.

Source reference: p. 5
04

Reasoning

The Court considered the need for repairs to the prisoner’s dilapidated house alongside the prior grants of 21 days’ ordinary leave to five co-accused and the absence of untoward incidents during their leave.

Source reference: pp. 3–4

On that basis, it was inclined to direct leave notwithstanding the respondents’ stated safety concern.

Source reference: pp. 3–4

It addressed the leave’s supervision and use by requiring twice-daily police reporting, compliance with Jail Manual conditions, and use of the leave only for its stated purpose.

Source reference: p. 5
05

Holding

The Court disposed of the writ petition and directed the respondents to grant Chellammal 21 days’ ordinary leave without escort.

During leave, she must report to the third respondent at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily, return to the prison on completion, comply with Jail Manual conditions, and use the leave only for the stated purpose; the petitioner must provide the necessary documents and a copy of the order to the prison authorities.

Source reference: p. 5

No costs were ordered.

Source reference: p. 5
Madras High Court

Original Court PDF

S. KaviyapriyavsThe Deputy Inspector General

Madras High Court · September 28, 2026

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