Meghalaya HC asks Govt to consider setting up of correctional home in New Shillong

The two-member bench said, “In the event New Shillong develops as it is proposed, a correctional home in the middle of the business district may be found to be inappropriate in the next 20 or 30 years by the time the place developed.”

“Even though the plan has already been prepared and the area earmarked, the State may do well to consider whether it would be appropriate to construct the new correctional home in New Shillong, which has been identified as the business district of Shillong in future and where all major administrative wings, including the new Assembly, are coming up,” the bench said while hearing a PIL here on Monday.

It also cited that the area also has NEIGRIHMS on the one side and the new campuses of the Indian Institute of Management and the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

It was submitted before the court that as far as the correctional home at Shillong is concerned, a new block has been substantially constructed to accommodate the huge number of inmates.

According to the State, the construction of the part for convicted inmates and another part for undertrials and mentally challenged inmates is complete to the extent of 80 per cent and an additional dining hall and kitchen are complete to the extent of 70 per cent.

As far as the proposed new correctional home at New Shillong is concerned, the State informed that though the construction work has not commenced a sum of Rs 70 lakh out of the proposed initial expenditure of Rs 7 crore has already been released for the project.

Meanwhile, the court has also stated that while on the subject, it is necessary to emphasise that separate facilities must be created at all correctional homes for transgenders or members of the LGBTQ community, particularly keeping in mind that they are not harassed by the other inmates.

“Let the matter appear six weeks hence in the hope that the temporary additional facilities at the present Shillong correctional home would be ready by then,” it said.

The next hearing will be held on July 18.

By Our Reporter