Notice to prisons dept to respond to plea for Murugan’s treatment

CHENNAI: A division bench of Madras High Court on Friday ordered notice to the state prisons department to file its response on a petition filed by Padma, mother of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case life-term convict Nalini Sriharan to treat her son-in-law Murugan, another convict in the case who is undergoing sentence in Vellore central prison.

The bench comprising Justice PN Prakash and Justice RMT Teekaa Raman passed the direction on hearing the petition filed by Padma.

The petitioner alleged that her son-in-law’s health conditions had worsened as he is undergoing an indefinite hunger strike for the past 32 days.

According to Padma, Murugan’s advocate who saw him in the prison informed her that the convict was not in a position to speak.

“We made a representation to the prison authorities in Vellore to give proper treatment to the fasting Murugan. However, the prison authorities did not take any steps to provide necessary medical assistance and treatment to Murugan.

Recording the submissions, the bench directed the prisons department DGP, IG, and Vellore Prison Superintendent to file their responses regarding the health of Murugan and the necessity for treatment.

The matter has been adjourned for two weeks.