K VALAMBAL Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ALL these writ petitions, which are more or less similar though by different individuals, and which are for the same reliefs, were heard together, and are being disposed of together

(2.) ONE Valambal has filed W.P. No. 4623 of 1979 on behalf of seven persons : Kaliaperumal, Valluvan, Nambiar, Masilamanani, Ananthanayaki, Rajamanickam, and Arumugham, who are all life convicts. W.P. 766 of 1980 is by one Kandaswami, who is a life convict. W.P. 767 of 1980 is by one Gopal, a life convict, W.P. 768 of 1980 is by one Panchalingam, a life convict, W.P. 769 of 1980 is by Valluvan the life convict covered by W.P. 4623 of 1979 filed by Valambal, as aforesaid, W.P. 770 of 1980 is by one Krishnaveni, a life convict. W.P. 771 of 1980 is by one Kumarakuppan who has been sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment. W.P. 772 of 1980 is by one Thiagarajan, a life convict. W.P. 773 of 1980 is by one Tamilarasan who has been sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and also for 30 months' rigorous imprisonment. They had been convicted of offences under the Indian Penal Code and sentenced therefor and are serving the sentences in one or other of the Central Jails at Madras, Vellore, Salem and Coimbatore. The petitioners in W.Ps. 766 to 773 of 1980 have preferred their petitions from jail through the Superintendent of the Central Jail, Coimbatore. Where they are serving the sentence. For purpose of convenience, these convicts would be referred to in this judgment as the 'petitioners'

(3.) THE representation and the allegations contained in the petitions filed on behalf of all the petitioners inter alia are to the effect that the petitioners are kept in solitary confinement all the day and night except for an hour a day, that the jail authorities have informed them that this is done in accordance with a Government Order, that in respect of correspondence and mail, in respect of interview and in respect of getting legal advice the jail authorities insist upon the petitioners to give the particulars before hand for the purpose of getting them passed through the Q branch police and that the Q branch police are illegally interfering with the administration in the jails in relation to the petitioners herein