SHILLONG, Sep 19: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit on all other unlisted cases of custodial deaths – whether in jail or in police custody – indicating the cause of death, post-mortem reports and any report of inquiry. The report has to be filed within six weeks.
In its order on Monday, the court observed that though an affidavit on the cases of custodial deaths was filed by the state government pursuant to the previous order of August 23, 2022, it was fairly submitted by the public prosecutor that there may have been some other cases of death in custody during the relevant period though the incidents may not have been in correctional homes or jails.
“Since the state seeks some time to furnish details of all other cases of custodial death, whether in jail or in police custody, a detailed affidavit indicating the cause of death, post-mortem reports and any report of inquiry should be filed within six weeks,” the order said.
The court took note of a case of one of the inmates dying in a correctional home due to COVID-19 and asked the state government to indicate whether the usual compensation payable in respect of COVID death has been extended to the next of kin of the deceased in such case.
