Panaji: The Bombay high court directed the home department to constitute a state monitoring committee to facilitate setting up of the open correctional institution as directed by the Supreme Court.The home department was told to include in its committee architect Anup Gadgil, director of Goa unit of prison ministry, Fr Maverick Fernandes, professor in sociology at Goa University Prof Joanna Pereira Coelho, and a senior psychologist of the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, as members.It was also told to include people of certain standing and repute to provide advice and inputs to the committee.“The panel shall deliberate on the concept of the open correctional institution as recommended by the Supreme Court and shall present a report of the plan and the concept before the monitoring committee by June 15,” the court stated.The chairperson of the Goa State Legal Services Authority was nominated as the chairperson of the State Monitoring Committee. The constitution of the committee will be completed by May 12 and then notified, govt said.Govt stated that in Dec 2024, in-principle approval was granted by the state setting up a semi open prison in the state on 30,000sqm in survey adjacent to the present Colvale Central Jail.
