Mother Cannot Give Fruits Brought From Outside To Imprisoned Son; Madras HC Upholds Restriction, Directs Canteen To Stock Them

The petitioner sought permission to provide fruits to her son, a convict prisoner at Central Prison, Palayamkottai.

She said prison officials had previously accepted fruits for inspection and delivery but later orally prohibited outside food, directing visitors to purchase eatables from the prison canteen. She relied on Rule 521(3) of the Tamil Nadu Prison Manual Rules, 2024, and her representation dated 16 September 2026.

The State submitted photographs showing narcotics and other prohibited substances concealed in fruits and eatables, and relied on directions issued by the Inspector General of Prisons under Section 11 of the Prisons Act, 1894.

The State also produced evidence that fruits, including bananas, apples and oranges, were available for purchase at a prison canteen.

Section 11(1) of the Prisons Act, 1894 provides that, subject to the Inspector General’s orders, the Superintendent manages the prison in matters including discipline and control.

The petitioner invoked Rule 521(3) of the Tamil Nadu Prison Manual Rules, 2024 as permitting the provision of fruits, subject to inspection.

The Court relied on Section 11 in upholding the prison authorities’ control over items brought into the prison; it cited no judicial precedents.

The Court accepted the State’s security justification, including the evidence that prohibited substances had been concealed in fruits and other eatables, and treated the restriction as an exercise of the Superintendent’s authority to manage prison discipline and control under Section 11.

It found that the restriction was not a total ban because fruits and other eatables were available through the prison canteen. On that basis, it rejected the claim of arbitrariness, without separately analysing the scope of Rule 521(3).

It disposed of the petition, permitting the petitioner to deposit funds into the prisoner’s account for purchases and directing the Superintendent to ensure that sufficient quantities of good-quality fruits and other eatables are available in the canteen.