Plea against solitary confinement

Madurai

A habeas corpus petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court by the father of a detenu, currently lodged at the Tiruchi Central Prison, alleging that his son was kept in solitary confinement.

The petitioner, A. Martin, said that a representation was made to Tiruchi District Legal Services Authority in person, which had sought a clarification from the prison authorities. Meanwhile, when the petitioner visited the prison to meet his son, prison authorities refused to produce him and claimed that he was being kept in a separate cell and would not be allowed to meet anyone for three months.

The petitioner said that he met his son only when he was produced before a judicial magistrate in Tiruchi. He claimed that his son confided that he was being kept in solitary confinement and denied basic amenities. The petitioner sought the production of his son and inquiry into the matter.

A division bench of Justices M. Sundar and Anita Sumanth directed the prison authorities to file a counter and posted the case to June 6 for further hearing.