The Madras High Court on Friday expressed deep concern over the illegal detention of a man suffering from a chronic mental health condition, who was acquitted in a murder case in 2016 but has remained in Trichy Central Prison for the past decade. The court directed the state government to form a team to inspect all prisons across Tamil Nadu to identify similar cases where acquitted or sentenced individuals with mental disorders continue to be incarcerated.
Case Background
The court was hearing a petition filed by a man seeking the release of his brother, who had been confined at Trichy Central Prison. The petitioner's brother, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was accused of murdering his mother during a quarrel in Ariyalur district in 2016. In September 2016, the Fast Track Mahila Court in Ariyalur concluded that he suffered from a chronic mental health condition and acquitted him of all charges. However, the court directed that he be detained in Trichy Central Prison until the state government decided to hand him over to a friend or relative.
Court's Observations
A division bench comprising Justice N Anand Venkatesh and Justice K K Ramakrishnan noted that the petitioner's grievance was that his brother had been languishing in prison for the last 10 years. The bench termed this a grave violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. “If the person is suffering from a chronic mental health condition, he must be placed in a mental health institute for his protection and the interest of society, and he can never be detained in a jail. Hence, the fact that the petitioner’s brother continued to languish in a jail for the last 10 years amounts to illegal custody,” the judges observed.
Compensation and Inspection Ordered
The judges further observed that the case prima facie warrants compensation for illegal custody. Consequently, they directed the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary and the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services to constitute a team, with assistance from the Legal Services Authority, to inspect all jails in the state and submit a report on similar cases.
This ruling highlights the systemic failure in handling mentally ill prisoners and underscores the need for humane treatment and adherence to legal procedures.
