Rupees one lakh monetary relief in a case of death in judicial custody in Tamil Nadu
(Case No. 1079/22/2004-2005)

Kudilraj was serving life imprisonment in Central Jail, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. On the 31st December, 2004, he committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the prison complex. The Commission received an intimation regarding the incident from Superintendant of Central Prison, Cuddalore. The Commission observed that the incident could have been avoided if the jail guard was vigilant. A show cause notice under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 was issued to the Government of Tamil Nadu. In response to the notice, the State Government communicated that it had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 50,000/- for payment as compensation to the mother of the deceased. The Commission found the amount grossly inadequate for the loss of human life. Considering old age of the mother of the deceased and all the circumstances, the Commission recommended that the Tamil Nadu Government pay monetary relief of rupees one lakh with the direction to adjust the amount already paid.