The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) made a crucial recommendation on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, advising the Tamil Nadu government to compensate the legal heirs of a 60-year-old remand prisoner with ₹3 lakh. The prisoner, identified as K. Gurusamy from Kumarapalayam, Tiruchengode taluk in Namakkal district, experienced severe chest pain and was pronounced ‘brought dead’ upon arrival at a Salem hospital in October 2019.
SHRC member V. Kannadasan underscored the necessity for the State to implement effective measures to ensure proper medical attention for all prisoners, both within and outside correctional facilities. He further stressed the importance of arranging sufficient and distinct escorts when transporting prisoners to hospitals located away from their detention centers.
The Commission initiated its inquiry after receiving a fax from the Superintendent of Prisons at Central Prison, Salem, detailing Gurusamy’s death and requesting a Judicial Magistrate to investigate the incident. Following a thorough review, including a detailed report from the SHRC’s investigation division, the Commission concluded that the Superintendent of Prisons held the primary responsibility for overseeing the medical care provided by doctors. The report explicitly stated: “But, in this case, the Superintendent of Prisons failed to do so. Hence, he is solely responsible for the death of the prisoner Gurusamy.” This ruling highlights a critical lapse in duty and calls for greater accountability in the state’s prison system.