SHILLONG, April 21: The High Court of Meghalaya has aired concern over the occupancy at correctional home in the state capital and has suggested the Meghalaya government to explore a temporary additional facility.
The Division Bench of the High Court, which was hearing a PIL on Thursday, said that albeit measures have been taken by the state government to better the conditions in the correctional homes, the correctional home in Shillong continues to remain with 300 per cent occupancy.
“At any rate, it is completely unacceptable that there will be a correctional home with 300 per cent occupancy,” the High Court said.
“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,” it added.
It is pertinent to note that in addition to the five correctional homes in Shillong, Tura, Williamnagar, Nongpoh and Jowai, a sixth correctional home is under construction at Nongstoin in addition to a central correctional home, which is coming up near Shillong.
The matter has, meanwhile, been listed for hearing on June 6.
