The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Thursday issued summons to the Home Secretary, Additional DGP (Prisons) and Superintendent of Central Prison in Coimbatore, to appear before it, over the non-release of a life convict prisoner despite a Madras High Court judgment. The SHRC rarely summons top government officers seeking their personal appearance.
The summons issued by SHRC member D. Jayachandran directed them to appear before the Commission at 10.30 am on July 24. “If you fail to comply with this summons without lawful excuse, final decision in the proceedings shall be taken by the Commission in your absence and you will be proceeded against under the Civil Procedure Code,” stated identically worded summonses issued to the three respondents in the
suo motu
case.
On June 22, when a SHRC team visited the Central Prison in Coimbatore, Jabroo alias Syed Jafer Ahmed, a life convict, who has been incarcerated for nearly 19 years, said in December last the Madras High Court on a habeas corpus petition filed by his sister ordered his release unless his detention was required in connection with any other case. His sister pointed out that he was entitled for a premature release based on the guidelines issued in a Government Order of September 2018.
However, he was not released by the prison authorities violating the court direction. A member of the SHRC took
suo motu
cognisance of the matter and on June 25 issued notice to the respondents seeking an explanation from them. His incarceration was a violation of human rights, it said. Since the authorities did , the Commission issued summons to the three top officers seeking their personal appearance.
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