NT Reporter
Panaji
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday said the state government should prepare a detailed report on setting up an Open Correctional Institution (OCI) and place it before the State Monitoring Committee, noting
that in-principle approval has already been granted and land identified for
the project.
The court was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation related to the establishment of a semi-open prison.
The High Court said that to achieve the objective, a report shall be prepared by the Home Department. It also said a committee of officers from relevant departments shall be constituted to examine the concept of an OCI as recommended by the Supreme Court and submit a report on the plan before the Monitoring Committee by June 15.
The court said the report should incorporate the concept of an OCI in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court in Suhas Chakma vs Union of India and Ors.
The HC was informed that in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, the chairperson of the Goa State Legal Services Authority has been nominated as the chairperson of the State Monitoring
Committee.
Advocate Deep Shirodkar, appearing for the Home Department and the Director General of Prisons, said that a file has been moved for the appointment of the Home Secretary, or a nominee not below the rank of Additional Secretary, and a senior Prisons Department officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General to complete the three-member committee.
He said the constitution of the committee will be completed by May 12 and notified
thereafter.
Additional Public Prosecutor Nikhil Vaze placed on record a communication dated December 4, 2024 issued by the Department of Home (General) to the Inspector General of Prisons, stating that the Goa government has granted in-principle approval for setting up a semi-open prison on a 30,000 sqm plot at Colvale, adjacent to the existing central prison.
