Shillong, Sept 10: The state government on Thursday assured the Meghalaya High Court that detention or holding centres to house foreign prisoners will be identified within a week.
The submission was made by AAG K Khan before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh during hearing of a writ petition.
Khan, on instruction of Home (Political) Commissioner and Secretary Rosetta Mary Kurbah, said the state will file an affidavit detailing steps to be taken after identification of the centres.
Following the Court’s order on September 9, four senior officials – Kurbah, Commissioner and Secretary, Home (Prisons) Ryntihlang Rapthap, IG Prisons Zenith Sangma and SP-cum-FRO Vivek Syiem – appeared in person.
They assured that steps will be taken for early repatriation of the prisoners in coordination with respective embassies.
The AAG submitted the list of overstaying foreign nationals, which the Court took on record.
The Bench said authorities, including the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, should assist the prisoners in deportation formalities, including applications to the FRO where prisoners are married to Indian citizens and have children.
The Court noted that details of overstaying foreign prisoners had not been furnished earlier and issued notice to IG Prisons Zenith Sangma to explain why a show-cause notice under the Contempt of Courts Act should not be issued against him, clarifying that the present notice is not under the Contempt Act.
The AAG waived notice on behalf of the IG Prisons and sought time to file an affidavit.
The matter will be heard again on September 17.
