Madras high court judges make surprise visit to Puzhal prison

CHENNAI: It was justice-at-doorstep of sorts. Two serving judges of Madras high court – Justice M S Ramesh and Justice N Senthil Kumar -- paid a surprise visit to the Puzhal Central Prison on Wednesday to assess the living conditions and grievances of the prisoners first-hand.

During a three-hour tour of the sprawling prison complex, the judges inspected the quarantine block, high-security block and the women’s prison. They also reviewed the jail registers to see if the jail administration’s maintains transparency and order.

The judges interacted directly with inmates and listened to their grievances and concerns. They engaged with paralegal volunteers — prisoners trained to offer legal aid — who guide fellow inmates on filing appeals and navigating legal processes. This initiative has been widely appreciated as a step forward in ensuring access to justice for all.

The judges visited the kitchen to check the quality of food being served to the inmates. They tasted the meals to see if the prescribed nutritional and hygienic standards were being met adequately.

During their inspection of the women’s prison, they held detailed discussions with women inmates on safety, hygiene, and facilities available for them.

During the visit, the judges were accompanied by senior prison officials, including the superintendents.