High Court refuses to accept apology

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, June 16: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday refused to accept an unconditiol apology tendered by the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police South West Khasi Hills district for failing to comply with the directions of the Court to rescue mentally challenged persons who are abandoned and roaming uncared in public places.

“However, looking to the grave ture of disobedience of directions given by Hon’ble the Apex court as well as this Court, we are not inclined to accept their apology, for the present,” the division bench of Chief Justice Uma th Singh and Justice T ndakumar Singh said.

It can be mentioned that recently, the Meghalaya High Court had taken cognizance of a news report which stated that a mentally unstable man was confined in a cell by the Dorbar Shnong of Ngunraw village, South West Khasi Hils district allegedly on the request of his family and relatives.

The Meghalaya High Court has in its order passed on April 27 this year, directed all the Deputy Commissioners as well as Senior Superintendents of Police, Superintendents of Police to ensure that no mentally challenged person is seen abandoned by his family or roaming about uncared in public places, or in other places inviting danger and causing inconvenience to public.

In their defence the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district stated that the directions of the Court have been complied with by circulating the same to all the concerned officers of police and executive departments.

Meanwhile, the High Court has directed the authorities to do the needful before the next hearing of the case set for June 17.