Taking serious note of foreign nationals remaining behind bars after serving their prescribed prison sentences, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to shift all such individuals to a temporary detention and holding facility by September 28. The ruling was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh during proceedings on a petition addressing prolonged post-sentence custody.
Around 30 Foreign Prisoners Still in Custody
According to a status report submitted by the Meghalaya government, approximately 30 foreign nationals have completed their penal terms but continue to remain lodged in state correctional facilities. The division bench underscored that retaining foreign citizens in standard prison enclosures once their court-mandated punishment has ended is inappropriate, calling for prompt administrative compliance to transfer them out of prisons.
MBOSE Hostel at Laitumkhrah Picked as Holding Facility
The bench observed that the state administration has identified the MBOSE Hostel located at Laitumkhrah in Shillong to serve as the temporary detention and holding centre. This selection came after the judges expressed dissatisfaction with an earlier plan put forward by authorities to repurpose a structure in Nongstoin. The three-storey hostel in Shillong features six dormitories equipped with roughly 60 beds, which the state has deemed fully adequate to accommodate the foreign nationals currently under detention.
Security, Medical Care and Facility Management
The state government's status report outlined that the designated complex will have comprehensive administrative and logistical arrangements. Plans include deploying adequate security personnel, administrative management, dedicated healthcare workers, extensive CCTV surveillance, and compliant fire safety systems. The bench ordered that the physical relocation of these individuals to the facility take place promptly and no later than September 28.
Deportation Steps and Cases of Long Detention
Appearing before the bench via video conference, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) from Kolkata, Nidhi Rani, reported that formal deportation orders have already been finalized in four cases, with repatriation procedures actively in progress. She informed the judges that corresponding administrative proceedings will be launched for the remaining foreign nationals who have discharged their prison sentences but remain confined.
The court was informed of specific profiles among the detainees, noting that two individuals hail from Myanmar, two from Nigeria, and one is a Bangladeshi citizen who has remained in custodial detention for more than five years.
Details Demanded on Compensation Framework
Addressing the issue of continued incarceration beyond judicial sentences, the division bench instructed both the state government and the FRRO to present clear details regarding the mechanism to compensate affected foreign nationals. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on September 28, with the concerned officials directed to attend the session either in person or via video link.
