Woman moves HC seeking 'release' of husband

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has adjourned a habeas corpus petition seeking to produce a man who is allegedly under illegal detention at the hands of his employer in Malaysia.
The division bench of Justice K K Sasidharan and Justice B Gokuldas was hearing the petition filed by T Ponnalagu of Kadachanendhal in Madurai.
The petitioner said that her husband Thirugnanam, 61, has been working as tailor under one Sivarani Periyasamy in Kuala Lumpur for a few years, where his employer did not pay him properly.Moreover, the working conditions were also bad.
On July 15, the petitioner's daughter received a phone call from Periyasamy informing that her father had been hospitalized and 3,000 Ringgit (Malaysian currency) was required to discharge him. She requested Periyasamy to arrange the required amount and send Thirugnanam back to India. But, the employer turned down her request. Later, she learnt that the hospital had discharged her father and the employer took him in his custody.
Demanding his release, a representation was sent to the chief minister's cell and the district collector of Madurai on July 18. However, due to emergency, a case was filed, the petitioner said.
The central and state governments sought time to act on the petitioner's grievance, following which the court adjourned the case to August 8.