The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue standing orders prohibiting political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from holding press conferences or media briefings inside police stations and prisons across the state.
The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh while hearing a case concerning the alleged assault and public humiliation of a senior advocate by members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF).
During the hearing on Monday, the court was informed that an FIR had been registered at Sadar Police Station against HNYF members in connection with the incident. Four accused have been arrested so far, while medical reports submitted before the Bench confirmed that the advocate had sustained injuries.
Observing that police stations and prisons are state institutions, the court said such premises should not be made available to “non-state actors” for addressing the media. It directed the DGP to issue appropriate standing orders to ensure that political parties, NGOs and other private organisations are not permitted to use these facilities for press briefings.
The Bench also granted additional time to the Advocate General to file a comprehensive affidavit on the state’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions in the Tehseen S. Poonawalla judgment, which mandates preventive, remedial and punitive measures to tackle incidents of mob violence and lynching.