The Bombay High Court has directed the Goa home department to constitute a state monitoring committee to facilitate the establishment of an open correctional institution, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Committee Composition
The court instructed the home department to include architect Anup Gadgil, director of the Goa unit of Prison Ministry Fr Maverick Fernandes, sociology professor at Goa University Prof Joanna Pereira Coelho, and a senior psychologist from the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour as members of the committee. Additionally, individuals of standing and repute are to be included to provide advice and inputs.
Reporting Deadline
The committee will deliberate on the concept of the open correctional institution as recommended by the Supreme Court and must present a report of the plan and concept to the monitoring committee by June 15, the court stated.
The chairperson of the Goa State Legal Services Authority has been nominated as the chairperson of the State Monitoring Committee. The government said the constitution of the committee will be completed by May 12 and then notified.
Background
The government stated that in December 2024, in-principle approval was granted for setting up a semi-open prison in the state on 30,000 square meters of land adjacent to the present Colvale Central Jail.
