Shillong: The Nongpoh district jail is in urgent need of a medical officer as per inspection conducted by the chairperson (Acting) of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission, P.J.P.Hanaman.
During his visit on Monday , it was found that the vacancy of a Medical Officer at the jail needs to be filled up urgently.
The Commission also reviewed the frequency of the meetings of the Under Trial Review Committee, the District Level Services Authority and the board of visitors and non-official visitors. It observed that these institutions should visit the jails as per their mandated frequency to have the desired effect.
It also made a detailed inspection of the living conditions of the under-trial prisoners and convicts of jail, with special emphasis on the health and hygiene conditions, food and recreational facilities, which were found to be satisfactory.
Hanaman also held an interactive session with the inmates to ascertain their views on their living conditions and grievances. As against the sanctioned capacity of 100 inmates, the jail population was currently housing 125 inmates.
The Under Trial Review Committee should look into the aspects pertaining to effective implementation of Section 436 CrPC and Section 436 A of the CrPC so that the under-trial prisoners were not unduly detained in jail and to seek a way out for those inmates who were unavailable to furnish bail bonds due to poverty within the stipulated Rules, the Commission observed.
