Muruges Pille Kamalwathi vs. The Hon. Attorney General and The Officer-in-Charge – CA PHC APN 131/2020-2022

In the case between Muruges Pille Kamalwathi (on behalf of Shanmugam Udaya Kumar) and The Hon. Attorney General and others, the issue considered was whether the High Court’s refusal to grant bail to the suspect arrested for possession of heroin warranted revision, particularly on the ground of “exceptional circumstances” under Section 83(1) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It was held that neither family hardship nor prosecution delays amounted to “exceptional circumstances” justifying release, especially given the suspect’s previous convictions and the subsequent filing of an indictment in the High Court. Established authorities were cited to reaffirm that such factors are not sufficient unless distinct and extraordinary facts are demonstrated. The decision clarified t