The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday has modified the surveillance order on a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee.
The refugee had moved the High Court alleging that her family was subjected to harassment by the ‘Q’ Branch police.
A division bench of Justices S. Vimala and T. Krishnavalli, hearing the petition moved by Udayakala, directed K. Dhayabararaj, her husband, to appear before the Judicial Magistrate - I, Ramanathapuram, twice every week, on Mondays and Fridays to sign before the Magistrate.
The court directed that telephone numbers used by both Udayakala and K. Dhayabararaj be provided to the Q Branch police and the State government. Under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, the government could continue the monitoring.
The government could exercise its power and continue monitoring the petitioner and her husband by using the latest technology except physical surveillance.
Udayakala filed the petition before the High Court alleging that the Q Branch police were harassing her. She said she was running a small stall at the camp. But, the police were demanding bribe from her.
When she refused to pay, they threatened to implicate her under false charges, she complained.
The Q Branch police said both Udayakala and her husband K. Dhayabararaj were associated with some members of the banned outfit LTTE so that a constant surveillance was necessary.
Earlier in 2016, the High Court had directed the Q Branch police to transfer her husband from Tiruchi Special camp to Mandapam in Ramanathapuram after she had filed a habeas corpus petition.
