HC closes Swamy’s PIL over en masse release of life convicts

Chennai, Aug 16 (PTI) The Madras High Court today closed aPIL filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy challenging en masserelease of 1,405 life convicts by the Tamil Nadu government in2008 in connection with the centenary celebration of latechief minister and DMK founder C N Annadurai, saying nopractical purpose would be served in continuing it. "No interim orders restraining the release are passed andthat the persons stand released eight years ago. "We are, thus, of the view that really speaking, nopractical purpose would be served by continuation of theseproceedings, as it cannot be really said that now those peoplehave to be brought back into jail," the First Bench comprisingChief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan saidin its order. Swamy had filed the PIL in 2008 seeking quashing of theSeptember 11, 2008 Government Order based on which 1,405prisoners serving life imprisonment were released from jailsduring the then DMK regime. Alleging that the release of the convicts was apolitically motivated act, Swamy had contended that they hadspent only seven years of jail term, and the remission grantedto them was not good for the society. The bench said, "We appreciate that there is legal concernexpressed by the petitioner, but various pronouncements havebeen made qua such release. We, thus, consider it appropriateto leave the question of law open if the petitioner wants tourge some aspects, while closing the present proceedings." It also closed another related PIL filed by two lifeconvicts — A Samsudeen and Jakir alias Gundu Jakir. Considerable time had passed since these writ petitionswere filed. In one of the petitions, the counsel does not haveinstructions as to whether the petitioner therein has or hasnot been released. In another case, nobody represents thepetitioner. "We are thus of the view that the only direction to bepassed in these matters is that if these petitioners have notalready been released, the relevant Committee under theChairmanship of Superintendent of Central Prisons may examinetheir case in accordance with law," the bench said. PTI CORRVSSCMVV