Tensions Rise in Thiruparankundram

Recent controversies over the ownership and religious practices on the hill have led to growing friction between communities.

The historically peaceful town of Thiruparankundram, located in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, is now at the centre of rising communal tensions. For over two centuries, Hindus, Muslims, and Jains have coexisted in this sacred space. However, recent controversies over the ownership and religious practices on the hill have led to growing friction between communities.

Pilgrim town in Madurai district tensed, security heightened

To prevent any violence in the region, authorities have clamped prohibitory orders and additional police personnel have been deployed to monitor the entire pilgrim town round the clock

The police have denied permission for public meetings organised by religious and political groups, citing the prohibitory orders imposed in town. (HT photo)

MADURAI: The state police told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday that investigation into the death of a 20-year-old female found dead in a well in her Pudukkottai house, was proceeding on the right lines.

The additional public prosecutor made the statement when the court was hearing a petition filed by father of the deceased R Sowmya, V Ramesh seeking a direction to conduct a re-postmortem.

MADURAI: Prisoners deserve a dignified life and they must enjoy their rights during incarceration, said Madras high court, underscoring the need to improve prison culture and environment in Tamil Nadu.

To achieve the twin goals, a division bench laid down a set of directions, including formation of board of visitors for each jail and appointment of non-official visitors to all jails in the state.

Prison administration needs to be reformed for creating a better environment and prison culture to ensure prisoners enjoy their right to dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution, observed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court while passing a series of directions in this regard.

The handbook should contain information on prisoners’ rights, laws protecting them and grievance redressal mechanisms available to them.

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the state to amend its prison rules in accordance with the Model Prison Manual, 2016, and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules).

கைதிகளின் அடிப்படை வசதிகளை சிறைகளில் ஏற்படுத்த பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கும்படி சிறைத்துறைக்கு மதுரை ஐகோர்ட்டு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

சிறைகளில் அடிப்படை வசதிகள்

மதுரை மக்கள் கண்காணிப்பகம் சார்பில் அதன் நிர்வாக இயக்குனர் ஹென்றி டிபென், மதுரை ஐகோர்ட்டில் தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவில், தமிழக சிறைகளில் அலுவல் சாரா பார்வையாளர்களாக உரிய பயிற்சி பெற்றவர்களை நியமிக்கவும், சிறைகளில் அடிப்படை வசதிகளை நிறைவேற்றவும் உத்தரவிட வேண்டும் என்று கூறியிருந்தார்.

Madurai: Madras high court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction at the CB-CID investigation into the 2019 Avaniyapuram custodial death case in Madurai district. A division bench of acting chief justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana observed that the custodial death of the youth happened on October 25, 2019. An FIR was registered but investigation was not completed even after two years.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the progress made in the investigation into the 2019 Avaniapuram custodial death case, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday observed that there was not only a delay but also lapses on the part of the investigating officer. The CB-CID is probing the custodial death case. A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana took note of the fact that the incident took place in 2019. But, the probe was yet to be completed. The CB-CID took over the investigation in 2021.