Shillong, Sept 21: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday directed that all 30-odd foreign nationals who continue to remain in jail after completing their sentences be shifted to the newly notified temporary detention centre at the MBOSE Hostel in Laitumkhrah by September 28 while hearing a suo motu petition.
“Since all facilities are practically in place, we direct that all foreign nationals shall be transferred to the temporary Detention Centre at MBOSE Hostel at the earliest and in any event, by 28.09.2026,” the division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh ordered.
The Meghalaya government has notified the MBOSE Hostel as a temporary detention/holding centre for foreign nationals who remain in custody after completing their jail terms. The notification was issued on September 17 by the Home (Political) department, according to a status report filed before the bench.
The Inspector General of Prisons and Correctional Services has already directed all district jail authorities to begin transferring such foreign inmates to Shillong.
According to the status report, the G+2 hostel has six dormitories and can accommodate 60 inmates. The proposed arrangements include 26 administrative and guarding staff, eight security personnel and one platoon for the gates and watchtowers. The centre will also have a medical officer with three medical staff, 26 CCTV cameras, fire-safety arrangements and office infrastructure.
Photographs of the facility were also placed before the Court.
The government had earlier proposed a building at Nongstoin for the purpose, but the High Court rejected the proposal.
The court proceedings were attended by SP (Traffic), who is holding charge as SP-cum-FRO Shillong in the absence of Vivek Syiem, who is on medical leave; FRRO Kolkata Nidhi Rani, IPS, through video conference; and the Commissioner and Secretary, Home (Political).
The FRRO informed the bench that deportation orders had been issued in four cases and steps were being taken to repatriate the individuals concerned.
She also said she would take up the cases of two Myanmar nationals, two Nigerians and one Bangladeshi national who have been in custody for more than five years.
The bench further directed the state government and the FRRO to place on record how compensation could be paid to foreign nationals who have remained in custody beyond the completion of their sentences.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for September 28.
