The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has closed a public interest litigation petition filed in 2021 that sought a direction to the State to set up information kiosks in prisons. The court took note of the fact that the Centre had approved and sanctioned ₹5.89 crore to Tamil Nadu for the implementation of e-Prisons project.
The court was hearing the petition filed by K. R. Raja of Madurai. The petitioner said many prison inmates were unaware about their case status, hearing dates, judgments and other information. He sought a direction to the State to set up information kiosks in all central prisons, special prisons for women and borstal school.
The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, in a counter affidavit, submitted that action has been initiated to provide information kiosks in all central prisons, special prisons for women and borstal school. It is in progress and will be implemented soon.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice C.V. Karthikeyan took note of the G.O. issued by the Home Department in 2023 stating that ₹1.56 crore had been sanctioned towards the purchase of hardware items for nine central prisons, five special prison for women, 13 district Jails, 113 sub jails, special sub jails, open air jails, borstal school and broadband connectivity for nine central prisons, five special prison for women and prison headquarters for the e-prisons project.
The State submitted that the project will be implemented as soon as possible. Taking note of the submission, the court closed the petition.
Published – September 19, 2026 08:11 pm IST
