SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has found mistakes in the data provided in connection with the case pertaining to under-trial prisoners (UTPs) languishing in jail for years.
The court, while hearing the case, said, “Even at a glance, we have found several mistakes/shortcomings/lacunae in this compilation where the particulars of cases appear to be incorrect and in the column ‘history and gist of the case with reason for pendency’, several blanks are left or the contents are incomplete.”
The counsel for the petitioner, the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, submitted that the basic data on UTPs have been collected from respective courts in compliance with the order issued last month and the State Legal Services Authority would cross-check the data with the assistance of concerned legal aid lawyers and public prosecutors.
The court observed that the compilation of data does not appear carrying assimilation of the relevant particulars and is not methodical.
Amicus curiae H.S Thangkhiew submitted that the data would be re-examined, rechecked and filtered properly and the entire report will be presented in the court by the next date of hearing.
The court recalled that earlier it found shocking state of affairs in the conduct of proceedings by the District Council Court, Shillong, particularly in a case where the accused was in custody for over 12 years.
The case in point is that of UTP Demansingh Kynter. The HC had issued specific directions for expeditious proceedings in the trial and for conclusion of the same at the earliest, preferably before the end of this month.
The Court also asked the prosecution to produce the witness in the case immediately and it has been fixed for July 10.
The court after looking at the other broader issues to be examined in this PIL, maintained that it will be required of the District Council Court, Khasi Hills, Shillong to state specifically the particulars of all the cases of UTPs pending before it, with all the details regarding the length of incarceration of the UTPs and stage of the cases.
K Paul, counsel appearing for KHADC submitted that the process of collating such particulars/data is already going on and the report will be presented before the Court on or before the next date.The matter has been listed on July 31.
