Vidhi Codex

The Meghalaya Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026

The Meghalaya Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026

Criminal202672 sections21 chapters

The Meghalaya Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026, modernizes the state's prison administration by shifting the focus from mere confinement to rehabilitation and correctional services. It establishes a structured Directorate to oversee prison operations, emphasizing security, technology integration, and the humane treatment of inmates. The Act mandates specific provisions for women, transgender individuals, and prisoners with disabilities, while strictly prohibiting caste-based discrimination. It also introduces clear guidelines for parole, furlough, and sentence planning to facilitate social reintegration. For citizens, this law ensures that the prison system operates with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to human rights and public safety.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II FUNCTIONS OF PRISONS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS →

  1. 3Functions of Prisons and Correctional Institutions

Chapter III PRISON ACCOMMODATION →

  1. 4Accommodation for Prisoners
  2. 5Prison architecture and institutional pattern
  3. 6Categories of Prisons and Correctional Institutions
  4. 7Such prisons shall also have appropriate provision for an independent Court complex for holding court hearings or trials.

Chapter IV ORGANISATIONAL SET UP →

  1. 8Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services
  2. 9The work-force may include executive, ministerial, guarding staff, correctional officers and staff, medical personnel, etc., as may be prescribed under the relevant rules.
  3. 10Other officers of prisons
  4. 11Recruitment and Training

Chapter V DUTIES OF PRISON OFFICERS AND STAFF →

  1. 12Functions and duties of the officer-in-charge
  2. 13Medical Officer
  3. 14Duties of other prison officers and staff
  4. 15Exercise of powers of the officer-in-charge and Medical Officer in their absence
  5. 16Prison officers and staff not to have business dealings with prisoners or interest in prison contracts
  6. 17He shall be bound by the conduct rules of the Service as may be prescribed.

Chapter VI USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN PRISON ADMINISTRATION →

  1. 18Use of Technology in prison administration

Chapter VII ADMISSION, TRANSFER AND DISCHARGE OF PRISONERS →

  1. 19Admission of prisoners
  2. 20Transfer of a prisoner to another State/Union Territory
  3. 21Prisoners to be searched and examined on admission, exit and re-entry
  4. 22Search of Prisoners
  5. 23Articles of prisoners
  6. 24Admission, transfer and repatriation of foreign prisoners

Chapter VIII CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS →

  1. 25Composition of the Classification and Security Assessment Committee
  2. 26Grounds of classification and categories

Chapter IX Chapter IX →

  1. 27Taking appropriate measures against criminal activities of prisoners
  2. 28Special provisions for security, intelligence gathering, surveillance and rotation of prison staff on duty
  3. 29Use of electronic tracking devices on prisoners

Chapter X PRISON REGIMEN FOR WOMEN PRISONERS →

  1. 30Separate accommodation for women prisoners
  2. 31Pregnant women prisoners
  3. 32Necessary arrangements shall be made for providing her medical care and diet, as may be prescribed under the rules.
  4. 33Inquiry into complaints of sexual harassment

Chapter XI TRANSGENDER PRISONERS →

  1. 34Prison Regimen for Transgender prisoners

Chapter XII CUSTODY AND SECURITY OF PRISONERS →

  1. 35Safe custody and security of prisoners
  2. 36Visits to Prisoners
  3. 37Search of visitors and prison officers and staff

Chapter XIII DISCIPLINE IN PRISONS →

  1. 38Discipline in prisons
  2. 39Prison Offences
  3. 40Punishment for Prison Offences
  4. 41Punishment for possessing or using mobile phones and other contraband
  5. 42Procedure on repeated committal of a prison offence
  6. 43Such term shall be in addition to any other term which such prisoner may be already undergoing.

Chapter XIV HEALTHCARE FACILITIES →

  1. 44Prisoners' Health Care
  2. 45Mental health - psychological assessment and treatment

Chapter XV WELFARE PROGRAMS FOR PRISONERS →

  1. 46Vocational Training, Skill Development, Education and Recreational facilities
  2. 47Establishment of Canteens and Sales Outlets

Chapter XVI SENTENCE PLANNING →

  1. 48Individual Sentence Planning
  2. 49Work programme and wages

Chapter XVII OPEN AND SEMI-OPEN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS →

  1. 50Open and semi-open Correctional Institutions

Chapter XVIII PRISON LEAVE, REMISSION AND PRE-MATURE RELEASE →

  1. 51Parole and Furlough
  2. 52Remission to prisoners
  3. 53Pre-mature release

Chapter XIX INSPECTION OF PRISONS →

  1. 54Inspection of Prisons

Chapter XX AFTER-CARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES →

  1. 55After-Care and Rehabilitation Services

Chapter XXI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 56Prohibition of Caste-based discrimination in Prisons and Correctional Institutions
  2. 57Manual scavenging or hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank inside a prison shall not be permitted.
  3. 58Legal Aid
  4. 59Constitution of the Under-Trial Review Committee for every district
  5. 60Report on the death of a prisoner
  6. 61Grievance Redressal Mechanism
  7. 62Utilisation of services of prisoners
  8. 63Prohibition of strikes and agitations
  9. 64Emergency
  10. 65Extramural custody, control and employment of prisoners
  11. 66Prison Development Board
  12. 67Delegation of Powers
  13. 68Accounts and Audit
  14. 69Protection of action taken in good faith
  15. 70Power of the Government to make rules
  16. 71Power to remove difficulties
  17. 72Provided that no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of two years, from the commencement of the Act.

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