BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 06-07-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R. POORNIMA WP Crl.(MD)No.3659 of 2026 Latha Petitioner(s) Vs. 1. The Director General of Prisons and Correction Services, Tamilnadu Prison Department, Egmore, Chennai 600008. 2. The Superintendent of Prison, District Prison, Ramanathapuram, Ramanthapuram District 623504. 3. The Inspector of Police, Sivagangai Town Police Station, Sivagangai District 630 561. Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Kasirajan For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Venkatesh, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant permission to the petitioner's son namely Arunpandi, presently confined as district Prison, Ramanathapuram District to grow his hair and donate the same to cancer patients based upon the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2026. ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble A.D.Jagadish Chandira, J.) The prayer in this writ petition is to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to grant permission to the petitioner's son namely Arunpandi, presently confined at District Prison, Ramanathapuram District, to grow his hair and donate the same to cancer patients based upon the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2026. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2. Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) would submit that the prison authorities have not prevented the petitioner's son namely Arunpandi, who is a remand prisoner from growing hair. He has not informed the authority that he was growing hair with an intention to donate it to cancer patients. Only recently on 24.06.2026, a representation was sent by the petitioner stating that her son / remand prisoner has intended to donate his hair to cancer patients. The 2nd respondent has sent a reply dated 03.07.2026 stating that they are not preventing him from growing hair unless and until it is not fit for his health. In this regard, it is relevant to extract below Rule 812 of the Tamil Nadu Prison Rules, 2024: ''812. Hair cutting.- (1) Under-trial or remand prisoners shall not be allowed to cut or shave the hair on their heads or faces, or in any way to alter their personal appearance so as to make it difficult to recognize them. They shall not, however, be prevented from changing their cloths provided that their appearance is not thereby materially altered when they are presented for identification in the prison or when sent to Court for trial. They may also be permitted to wear shoes. When the Chief Medical Officer deems it necessary on the ground of dirt or vermin, the hair of an under-trial or remand prisoner may be cut, but it shall not be cut closer than is necessary for the purposes of health and cleanliness. (2) A prisoner who has been more than a month in prison may, if he so desires it, have his hair or beard suitably cut, he may also be shaved provided it does not so alter his appearance as to make identification difficult.'' 3. Thus, in view of the order dated 03.07.2026 passed by the 2nd respondent, no further order is required to be passed in this petition. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 4. Accordingly, this Writ Petition (Criminal) stands closed. (A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA J.) (R.POORNIMA J.) 06-07-2026 bala To 1. The Director General of Prisons and Correction Services, Tamilnadu Prison Department, Egmore, Chennai 600008. 2. The Superintendent of Prison, District Prison, Ramanathapuram, Ramanthapuram District 623504. 3. The Inspector of Police, Sivagangai Town Police Station, Sivagangai District 630 561. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J. AND R.POORNIMA, J. bala ORDER MADE IN WP Crl.(MD)No.3659 of 2026 DATED : 06.07.2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis