Shillong,Sep. 22: The Meghalaya High Court on thrusday registered suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition as per directions of the Supreme Court to deal with the matters relating to custodial violence particularly, relating to the unnatural death of the prisoners.
The Apex Court in its order issued on September 15, in relation to a writ petition dealing with matters relating to custodial violence, has directed Chief Justice of the High Court to register suo motu public interest petition with a view to identifying the next of kin of the prisoners who have admittedly died an unnatural death as revealed by the NCRB during the period between 2012 and 2015 and even thereafter, and award suitable compensation, unless adequate compensation has already been awarded.
The Supreme Court has particularly issued directions for dealing with the matters relating to custodial violence and more particularly, relating to the unnatural death of the prisoners.
In an order issued on this regard, the division bench headed by chief justice Dinesh Maheshwari has also impleaded the state government and various functionaries related with Law Department, Social Welfare Department, Director General of Police, Director of Prisons, Health Services as respondents in this petition.
On the matter being taken on board, learned Addl Sr GA K Khan has put in appearance for the arrayed respondents. Let a copy of this petition be supplied to the learned Addl.Sr.GA so as to enable him to complete all his instructions.
Having regard to the issues to be addressed, the bench has also appointed counsel N Mozika as Amicus Curiae for the assistance of the Court.
A copy of the petition was also asked to be supplied to the Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority W Diengdoh.
It is noticed from the office report that at present two other cases relating to custodial death are pending in this Court, being WP (C) No.213 of 2014: Meena S. Marak v. State of Meghalaya and others and Contempt Case No.34 of 2015: Wanlana Nongkhlaw v.TJ Synrem and others.
It is informed that WP (C) No.213 of 2014 is to come up for consideration before the Court on October 4. In view of this, the bench has directed that the petition be also listed for orders on October 4.
