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Synopsis

An advocate has approached the Madras High Court, asking for better access for lawyers to meet and consult their clients in prison. The advocate filed a petition, claiming that the current restrictions by prison authorities are making it difficult for lawyers to properly communicate with their clients. This, the advocate argues, affects both the rights of the lawyers and the prisoners.

The writ of mandamus was heard by Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete. The advocate stated that the time slots provided by the prison to meet with clients are too short and only allow lawyers to meet one prisoner at a time. This is a problem for lawyers who represent multiple clients, as they cannot meet all of them in one visit. The advocate also said that these limits slow down legal proceedings and prevent prisoners from properly discussing their cases with their lawyers.

The court mentioned a previous meeting between prison officials and court authorities on July 25, 2023. In that meeting, some steps were discussed to resolve these issues, and prison officials promised to make improvements. However, not all problems have been fixed yet.

The Additional Public Prosecutor E. Raj Thilak, representing the prison authorities, confirmed that while some issues have been resolved, others are still under consideration. He added that time slots are being provided for lawyer-client meetings, but the court acknowledged that more needs to be done to allow lawyers to meet multiple clients in one visit.

Additionally, the advocate raised concerns about the lack of proper facilities for lawyers at the prison. There are no adequate seating areas, toilets for male and female lawyers, or locker facilities. The court agreed that these issues also need to be addressed to make it easier for lawyers to consult their clients.

Court has asked the prison authorities to submit a detailed report on the current facilities and what is being done to improve them. The case will be reviewed again on October 1, 2024, when the court will decide the next steps based on the report.

Case Number: W.P.No.28839 of 2024