HC orders issue of contempt notices against govt officials

The Madras High Court today ordered issue of contempt notices to various government officials on a petition filed by the mother of a murder convict serving life sentence, seeking his pre-mature release.
The court had on November 13 directed the authorities to release convict Ilango Karuppaiya on a habeas corpus petition by his mother Mallika seeking his pre-mature release as per a 2008 Tamil Nadu government order.
In the petition, Mallika had challenged the government's decision not to consider her son's case for pre-mature release, a benefit extended to 1,405 life convicts upon completion of seven years of their sentence as per the order.

The court had then stated that the detenue was already in jail for more than 11 years and was entitled for premature release as per the government order.
A division bench comprising justices S Rajeswaran and P N Prakash had directed the High Court Registry to issue the Statutory Notices to the Secretary (Home Prohibition and Excise Department) of Tamil Nadu government, Additional Director General of Prisons and the Superintendent of Prison.
The bench said it "is highly dissatisfied with the conduct of the officials" as till date, Ilango was not released by the authorities.

Mallika filed another HCP today to produce her son in the court.

Additional Public Prosecutor in his affidavit stated that the copy of the judgements were sent to ADGP and IG Prisons who have sent it to get orders from the Home Department and sought time from the court.
"No justification on the part of the prison authorities to await orders of the government. The order of the court should be complied with in its letter and spirit without any hesitation. Unfortunately, that is not being done in this case, which has necessitated to issue contempt notice to all the respondents herein," the bench said.