The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the State to file a counter affidavit to a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the authorities to fill vacancies in various posts in the Prison Department.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman was hearing the petition filed by K.R. Raja of Madurai.

The petitioner said under the statutory scheme of the Tamil Nadu Prisons Rules, 2024, specific posts have been created at the Prisons Headquarters namely, the Superintendent (Correctional Services) and the Superintendent (Training and Modernisation).

The posts are not ornamental or optional in nature. They have been incorporated as part of the statutory administrative structure for implementation of correctional programmes, rehabilitation measures, welfare initiatives, training policies and modernisation of prison administration, he said.

Several crucial correctional posts remain vacant in the Prison Department. The continued non-implementation of the statutory framework defeats the objective of the Tamil Nadu Prisons Rules and adversely affects prisoner welfare, correctional programmes, rehabilitation efforts, training of prison personnel, institutional efficiency and long-term societal interests, he said.

He sought a direction to the State to implement Rule 23 and 24 of the Tamil Nadu Prisons Rules by appointing the Superintendent (Correctional Services) and Superintendent (Training and Modernisation) at the Prisons Headquarters and fill the posts of Welfare Officer, Welfare Officer (Women) and Psychologist in the Prisons and ensure the effective implementation of the statutory correctional and modernisation framework contemplated under the Tamil Nadu Prisons Rules. The court posted the matter for hearing to July 6.