The Meghalaya High Court has instructed the state administration to transfer all foreign nationals who remain confined in correctional facilities after serving their sentences to a temporary holding centre by September 28.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh issued the directive on Monday during a hearing on a petition regarding the ongoing detention of foreign prisoners who have already completed their court-mandated jail terms.
State government records submitted to the court indicate that approximately 30 foreign nationals are currently held in custody despite having finished their formal sentences.
Shillong Facility Designated for Holding Detainees
The court approved the state government’s selection of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) hostel in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, as a temporary holding centre. The bench had earlier rejected an alternative proposal by the administration to designate a premises in Nongstoin for the purpose.
According to the state’s status report, the three-storey Laitumkhrah building contains six dormitories with around 60 beds, providing adequate capacity for the detainees currently awaiting repatriation. The government assured the court that the holding facility will be outfitted with dedicated administrative and security personnel, healthcare staff, closed-circuit television monitoring, and fire protection equipment.
The bench instructed authorities to initiate the relocation process immediately and ensure all eligible detainees are transferred no later than September 28.
Deportation Measures and Incarceration Details
During the hearing, Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) Kolkata, Nidhi Rani, appeared via video conference and informed the bench that formal deportation orders have been issued for four individuals, with repatriation procedures presently underway. She stated that appropriate steps would also be initiated for the remaining foreign nationals held past the end of their prison terms.
The court was notified that the detainees include two citizens of Myanmar, two from Nigeria, and one Bangladeshi national who has remained in custody for more than five years.
Compensation Framework and Next Proceedings
The division bench also called on both the state government and the FRRO to present clear modalities regarding compensation payouts for foreign nationals detained beyond the expiration of their sentences.
The high court has scheduled the next hearing in the case for September 28, requiring the concerned officials to appear either in person or through video conferencing.
