Case Note & Summary
The petitioner, C. Selvam, a convicted prisoner, was granted leave under the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982. To avail such leave, police escort was necessary, but the respondents, including the State of Tamil Nadu and police authorities, failed to provide it. Consequently, the petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to forthwith provide the required escort. During the pendency of the petition, the Commissioner of Police, Tiruchirappalli, passed an order on 22.03.2025 that effectively resolved the petitioner's grievance. When the matter came up for hearing on 24.03.2025, the learned counsel for the petitioner and the Additional Public Prosecutor for the respondents brought this development to the notice of the court. After hearing both sides and perusing the materials, the Division Bench, comprising Dr. Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice R. Poornima, observed that nothing survived for further adjudication in the writ petition in view of the said proceedings. Therefore, the court closed the writ petition as infructuous. The order did not go into the merits of the claim nor did it issue any direction regarding the provision of escort. The petition was simply closed on the basis that the grievance had been addressed administratively.
Headnote
A) Writ Petition - Mandamus - Provision of escort for leave under Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982 - Petition closed as infructuous following Commissioner of Police order dated 22.03.2025 - Held that nothing survives for adjudication; writ petition closed (Paras 3-4).
Issue of Consideration
Whether a writ of mandamus should be issued directing respondents to provide police escort to enable petitioner to avail leave granted under Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982.
Final Decision
Writ Petition closed as nothing survives for adjudication following the order of Commissioner of Police, Tiruchirappalli passed on 22.03.2025.
Law Points
- Writ petition closed as infructuous after Commissioner of Police passed order
- no mandamus issued.
