In Re High Court Of Sikkim

Biswanath Somadder, CJ

This Public Interest Litigation was registered sometime in the year 2015 in pursuance to the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No.559 of 1994. The issue in the instant Public Interest Litigation centers primarily around the condition of prisons in the State of Sikkim. From 2015 till date, several orders have been passed from time to time and in the meanwhile, conditions have vastly improved.

The learned amicus, while making his submissions before us today, recalled his personal visit to the Central Prison at Rongyek. As we gathered from his submissions, the present condition of the Central Prison is quite satisfactory. At this stage we are informed by the learned advocate of the State that so far as an additional vertical construction of the prison is concerned, steps have been taken by the State Government and work order(s) have been issued on 30th November, 2021. The work order(s) specifies/specify that the additional construction has to be completed within a stipulated timeframe of 18 (eighteen) months. The State Government shall ensure that this timeframe is strictly adhered to by the contractor(s).

The State Government shall also endeavour to take the jail authorities into confidence whenever new construction or modification of any existing structure of prisons is made.

We do not find any further reason to keep this Public Interest Litigation pending and as such, dispose of this matter with liberty to the learned amicus to invoke this jurisdiction in future, if further issues arise based on the observations/directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court as contained in Writ Petition (Civil) No.559 of 1994.

In view of disposal of this matter, the connected matter, being WP (PIL) No.10 of 2017, stands disposed of accordingly.