The Gauhati High Court has directed the states of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh to submit detailed affidavits addressing concerns highlighted in an inspection report on the state of central and district jails in the region.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kaushik Goswami stressed the need for these states to outline the measures taken in response to the recommendations provided by the inspection committee. The states are also required to specify any recommendations that remain unimplemented and present a timeline for their execution.
The directive comes in light of an affidavit filed on August 20 by the Registrar General of the High Court. This affidavit included an inspection report prepared by a committee comprising officials from the Assam State Legal Services Authority and the prison departments of Guwahati and Jorhat. The report revealed substandard conditions in several jails across the four states and proposed a range of improvements.
The bench noted that none of the states had submitted responses to the findings outlined in the affidavit. Consequently, the court has ordered them to file their affidavits before the next hearing, scheduled for January 29, 2025.
“By that time, the affidavits on behalf of all the four States be filed positively,” the bench stated, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
The affidavits are expected to include comprehensive updates on actions being taken to address the issues, ensuring the recommendations are implemented to improve prison conditions in the northeastern states.