SHILLONG, July 18: The Meghalaya High Court has demanded a detailed report on 12 senior citizens, some aged up to 80, who remain incarcerated across the state’s prisons. The court is seeking clarity on why these elderly inmates are still behind bars, the current status of their cases, and whether they are too ill to remain in custody.
The direction was issued on Thursday by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh during the hearing of a petition concerning prison conditions.
The bench examined a status report submitted by Additional Advocate General K. Khan, which revealed that 12 inmates aged between 70 and 80 are currently held in various district jails: five in Shillong, four in Tura, and one each in Nongpoh, Jowai, and Williamnagar.
Disturbed by these figures, the court directed the state government to furnish case-wise details for every individual.
“We request the AAG to provide the details of the cases pending against these persons and the stage at which their cases presently stand,” the bench observed. The court further ordered the state to disclose how long each inmate has been in judicial custody and whether any suffer from chronic illnesses or disabilities.
The proceedings also touched upon the conditions within the Williamnagar District Jail. The bench took on record a report from Amicus Curiae T Yangi B, who recently visited the facility to assess its state.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 10, when the state is expected to provide the specific legal and medical backgrounds of the elderly inmates.
