HC reserves order on Nalini’s plea seeking to speak to her kin abroad

The division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and VM Velumani reserved orders after observing that the calls can be recorded and monitored by prison officials. During the hearing that has been progressing for a while, the bench had asked the government to consider the matter humanely allow them to talk to relatives at least once after Murugan’s father died. Nalini’s advocate M Radhakrishnan urged the court to protect their fundamental right of being able to talk to their relatives like other prisoners, but public prosecutor A Natarajan argued that it was not a fundamental or vested right.

 The prosecutor added that GO No 524 of 2016 which bestows rights to make such calls clearly explained that such rights were vested only for Indian prisoners (Murugan is a Sri Lankan citizen). “No law or prison rule in India has given rights to foreign prisoners to make video calls to foreign countries,” Natarajan said while vehemently opposing the prayer in the petition.

 The public prosecutor also pointed out that Murugan had already made four video calls within India and the present plea seeking to make calls to foreign countries fell within the purview of External Affairs Ministry.