A Meghalaya school board hostel in Shillong, the State’s capital, has been designated as a temporary detention centre for foreign nationals who are awaiting deportation after completing their prison sentences.
On Monday (September 21, 2026), the High Court of Meghalaya directed the State government to shift 30 such foreigners to the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE) hostel in Shillong’s Laitumkhrah area.
The State’s Home (Political) Department issued a notification on September 17, identifying the hostel after the High Court rejected its earlier proposal to use a building in Nongstoin for the purpose. Nongstoin, the headquarters of West Khasi Hills district, is about 90 km northwest of Shillong.
“Since all facilities are practically in place, we direct that all foreign nationals shall be transferred to the temporary detention centre at MBoSE hostel at the earliest and in any event, by September 28,” a division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said.
Following the court directive, Meghalaya’s Inspector General of Prisons and Correctional Services instructed the heads of all district jails to begin transferring the foreign inmates who have overstayed their sentences to the MBoSE hostel.
According to the government’s status report, the hostel is a G+2 structure with six dormitories and has 60 beds. The facility will have 26 administrative and guarding personnel, eight security staff, and a platoon deployed at the gates and watchtowers.
The proposed arrangements also include a medical officer supported by three medical staff, 26 CCTV cameras, fire-safety equipment, and office infrastructure.
During Monday’s (September 21, 2026) hearing, officials informed the court that deportation orders have been issued in four cases and steps are underway to repatriate the individuals concerned.
The officials also told the court they would examine the cases of five foreign nationals — two each from Myanmar and Nigeria, and one from Bangladesh — in custody for more than five years.
The bench directed the Meghalaya government and the Kolkata-based Foreigners Regional Registration Office to place on record how the foreign nationals, detained beyond their sentences, can be compensated.
The matter will be heard next on September 28.
Published – September 22, 2026 11:57 am IST
