PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to expedite the proposed Open Correctional Institution (OCI), warning that delays in finalising its design, securing financial approvals and putting in place the legal framework could leave the project in uncertainty once the Model Code of Conduct for the Assembly elections comes into force.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar, on Wednesday, directed the government to place a clear timeline on record for completing the infrastructure and regulatory work, making it clear that procedural delays must not hold up
the project.
“...Place on record the timeline. The code of conduct will come (into force) now. You have to do everything quickly,” the Bench said while hearing a suo motu petition on compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions regarding open correctional
institutions.
Clear timeline
The Bench examined two key requirements: finalisation and approval of the proposed facility’s architectural design, and amendments to the prison rules to provide the legal framework for its establishment and
administration.
Rule amendments
On the legal framework, the government informed the court that a committee constituted in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions had been tasked with recommending standardised rules for OCIs across the country.
As the committee was expected to submit its recommendations by the end of October, Goa had deferred its proposed amendments pending the national-level recommendations.
The Bench asked the government to follow up on the matter with the concerned authorities without further delay.
Design approval
On the infrastructure front, the government submitted that it had sought administrative approval for the proposed designs.
The architect was expected to respond, while the architectural plans and cost estimates had been referred to the Public Works Department and the Prisons Department for scrutiny and finalisation of the project cost.
Cost concerns
The Bench had earlier observed that Goa’s proposed facility appeared exceptionally cost-effective compared with the larger and capital-intensive open prison infrastructure in other States. It had also sought clarity on the time required to finalise the designs and secure the necessary financial
approvals.
