Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 918/20

CM ATTENDS VIRTUAL MEETING CALLED BY TOURISM MINISTRY

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Shri Conrad K. Sangma on Friday participated in a virtual meeting called by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel to discuss ease of travel to enhance domestic tourism. Shri Conrad K Sangma informed Shri Patel of the several initiatives and intervention taken by the State to promote tourism and measures being adopted for the safety of tourists as the State gears up to open for tourism. He also said that Meghalaya has prepared itself to cater to tourists and has also inked an Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with a private airline company to operationalise flights from Delhi to Shillong, which would further boost tourism.

“Direct flight from Delhi to Shillong and from Shillong to other State capitals in Northeast will open up a huge tourism market”, said the Chief Minister. He further informed that 22 million outbound tourists from India, who usually look for high end tourism destinations outside, can take advantage of the low COVID situation in Northeast and explore the scenic and natural beauty of the region.

Press Release No. 921/20

BASE LAID FOR PERMANENT BUILDING OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRE AT TURA

The Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder unveiled the plaque for the Foundation Stone for Permanent Building of Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre at Dakopgre, Tura on 16th October, 2020. Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya, E Kharumnuid, Registrar, Judicial Services, A Ripnar, District and Session Judge cum Member Secretary, MLSA Shillong, Commissioner and Secretary, Law Department, Government of Meghalaya, W Khyllep, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, Superintendent of Police, Dr. M G R Kumar, Heads of Departments were among others who attended the function.

While speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder said that the number of litigation in the country was quite manageable in the earlier times, however, over a period of time the number of litigations increased and there came a time when the judicial officers and judges could not handle it further and he reiterated that the litigation should have limited shelf life and have to be over within a certain period of time otherwise the concept of justice delayed and justice denied is the one which would affect the justice delivery system, he added. For this reason, the legislature in its wisdom decided to amend the Code of Civil Procedure and introduced the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism in four segments comprising of Lok Adalat, Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation, the Chief Justice informed.

Further, he said that the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) is the most effective way to end long drawn protracted litigation and the step forward is to give and dedicate the centre to the local people of the area. He expressed hope that when completed, the ADR centre will benefit the common man of the region by bringing justice delivery system closer to the people within a short and reasonable time frame. Others who spoke on the occasion were District and Session Judge, West Garo Hills Tura, Dashalin Kharbteng, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, West Garo Hills Tura A M Pariat.