#Prison Rights

Madras High Court ruled that an 8-month delay in executing an approved 28-day ordinary leave for a convict infringes Article 21 and the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982. The Court directed immediate release, emphasizing that procedural delays cannot defeat statutory entitlements to prison leave, setting a precedent for timely enforcement of prisoner rights.

Madras High Court rules that solitary confinement does not violate Article 21 without evidence of unlawful isolation, and specialised medical care is not mandatory if a Medical Board confirms stable health. The judgment reinforces that prison authorities retain discretion unless custodial conditions demonstrably endanger life or dignity.