WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 Sangeetha ...Petitioner Vs 1. The State Represented by its The Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Coimbatore Range, Coimbatore - 641 018. 2. The Superintendent, Coimbatore Central Prison, Coimbatore – 641 018. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the impugned order bearing no.585/THAU/2026, dated 27- 05-2026 passed by the 1st respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to grant ordinary leave for 21 days without escort to the detenu, Manikandan S/o. Thiruvengadam, aged about 48 years, Convict Prisoner, PID No.315746, at Central Prison, Coimbatore. For Petitioner: Mr.S.Pandiyan https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 6 For Respondents: Mr.A.Amarnath Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) ORDER (Order of the Court was made by Sunder Mohan J.) The wife of the convict prisoner-Manikandan [PID No.315746], S/o. Thiruvengadam, aged 53 years, who is confined at Central Prison, Coimbatore, has filed this writ petition challenging the impugned order dated 27.05.2026, rejecting the request for 21 days ordinary leave to the convict prisoner. 2.By the impugned order, the second respondent rejected the request on the ground that the probation officer had not recommended leave and also since the Inspector of Police has stated that there could be a law and order problem, if he is granted leave. 3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner had sought for leave for the convict prisoner since their children are studying in college and their college fees had to be paid; that the convict prisoner’s presence is required for making arrangements for https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 6 the livelihood of their family; and that though the probation officer had found the reasons to be true, his report which does not recommend leave, is not justified. 4.The learned counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) per contra submitted that the impugned order cannot be faulted since both the probation officer and the Inspector of Police had not recommended leave. However, the learned counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) conceded that the probation officer, in his report, had found the reasons stated for leave to be true. 5.We have perused the report of the probation officer dated 14.05.2026. The probation officer had noted that the convict prisoner’s presence is required for paying the college fees of his children and also for selling the property to repay the loan obtained by his wife, namely the petitioner herein. 6.The only objection raised by the probation officer is that there is likely to be an issue with the creditors if the convict prisoner is released https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 6 on leave. There is no basis for such an inference made by the probation officer. In the police report it is stated that since election notification was in force, the convict prisoner’s release may lead to a law and order problem. 7.We find that the convict prisoner is entitled to 21 days ordinary leave as the probation officer has found the reasons for leave to be true. The prisoner had already gone on leave without escort pursuant to the orders of this Court in WP.No.33169 of 2020 dated 07.11.2024 for six days from 08.11.2024 to 13.11.2024. No untoward incident was reported at that time. The inference of the probation officer is not justified. The apprehension expressed by the police also no longer exists as the election results have been declared. Therefore, we are inclined to set aside the impugned order and grant 21 days ordinary leave to the convict prisoner. 8. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. The convict prisoner is granted Ordinary Leave without escort for a period of 21 days commencing from 29.07.2026 on the following conditions: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 6 (i) The respondents are directed to release the convict viz., Manikandan, S/o. Thiruvengadam, aged 53 years Convict PID No.315746 confined at Central Prison, Coimbatore, on ordinary leave without escort, for a period of twenty-one (21) days i.e., from 29.07.2026 to 18.08.2026. (ii)The convict shall be released on 29.07.2026 at 10.00 A.M. and is directed to surrender before the Superintendent of Prisons, Central Prison, Coimbatore, on 19.08.2026 before 10.00 A.M. (iii) The convict shall report before the jurisdictional police i.e., Aappakodal Police Station, Erode District, daily at 10.30 a.m., during the period of leave, except the date of release and surrender. (iv)During the leave period, the Convict Prisoner shall abide by all the conditions prescribed in the Jail Manual. (A.S.M.,J.) (S.M.,J.) 27-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No TSG Note: Issue order copy today. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 6 DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J. AND SUNDER MOHAN, J. TSG To 1. The Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Coimbatore Range, Coimbatore 641 018. 2. The Superintendent Coimbatore Central Prison, Coimbatore-641018. 3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai – 600 104. WP Crl. No. 1550 of 2026 27-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis