Shillong, April 21 (NNN): The Meghalaya High Court today asked the state government to come up with a temporary additional facility to ease the congestion of the Shillong district jail. Hearing a PIL on the matter, the two-member bench said that it appears that measures have been taken by the state to improve the conditions in the correctional homes.
However, in the correctional home at Shillong, there appears to be a 300% occupancy, it said while asserting that this needs to be addressed immediately.
“The State has to take adequate steps to ensure that an alternative to the present correctional home at Shillong is ready as expeditiously as possible. A temporary additional facility may also be explored,” the court said.
The court was also informed that in addition to the 5 correctional homes which already exist at Shillong, Tura, Williamnagar, Nongpoh and Jowai, a sixth correctional home is under construction at Nongstoin in addition to a Central Correctional Home coming up near Shillong. The next hearing will be held on June 6.
