Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 286/21

STATE LEVEL FUNCTION FOR THE LAUNCHING OF SPECIAL SUMMARY REVISION OF PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya, Shillong today organised the State Level Function for the Launching of Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral rolls w.r.t 1/1/2022 as the qualifying date, at a programme held in the Auditorium, Meghalaya Bharat Scouts & Guides, Shillong. Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer, Shri F R Kharkongor graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

During his address, Shri Kharkongor lauded the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills for the smooth functioning of the recently concluded by-polls for the two assembly constituencies under the district. He stated that the Special Summary Revision was very important particularly with the general election just a few months away, it is critical for all eligible voters to enroll themselves as it is their right to take part in the democracy. He informed that amidst the ongoing pandemic the process of holding elections has been a challenge but with a collective response and determination from all the stakeholders we can overcome all these problems to achieve the goals set by the ECI.

He further urged upon the general public to take advantage of the technology in the form of a voter helpline app which is available in Playstore, wherein users can access all the required information relating to elections.

During the day, the Chief Guest released the Special Summary Revision 2022 Creatives and Videos and distributed the Integrated Draft Photo Electoral Rolls CDs to political parties and also distributed BLO kits to the Booth Level Officers.

Others who were present include Kum. I Laloo, DC East Khasi Hills District, Additional CEOs, Shri B Mawlong and A M Sangma among others.

Press Release No. 289/21

CONFERENCE ON ACCESS JUSTICE FOR ALL HELD

The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) today organized a Conference on the occasion of Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Yojana Bhavan, Main Secretariat, Shillong. The theme of the Conference was “Access Justice for All”.

Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Judge, Supreme Court of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence of Mr. Justice R. V. More, Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya and Parton -in - Chief MSLSA, Shri. James K. Sangma, Meghalaya Law Minister, Mr. Justice H. S. Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman, MSLSA and Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, said that the Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme launched by the NLSA as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is aimed at ensuring that the celebration of 75 years of Indian independence is not merely ceremonial. The Meghalaya Judiciary and the Meghalaya Government are focused on chalking out a road map to ensure that access to justice for all is a reality. The challenge is to reach out to citizens at the grassroots level, most of whom may not even be aware of what the term justice means, he added. There is a need to create awareness in every nook and corner of the State to ensure that nobody is deprived of justice due to ignorance about justice or ignorance about the path to justice, he stated.

Mr. Justice R. V. More speaking on the theme of the Conference said that ‘Access Justice for All’ is a basic human right which is predominantly embedded in the Indian Constitution. The hallmark of a successful and vibrant democracy is that every citizen is not only guaranteed justice but also that justice is accessible and equitable. He further added that Legal Aid plays a very important role in the realization of access of justice for all as it is made to bring justice to people who have no means for access. Stressing on the importance of ensuring that Legal Aid is not confined to the traditional or litigation oriented services but should have a more dynamic approach, he informed that MSLSA has been relentlessly working towards the progress of the objective of accessing justice for all. He informed that constant efforts are being made by MSLSA to educate citizens about the concept of legal aid and to bridge the gap between them and the access to justice through a series of awareness programmes held on various platforms.

Shri. J K Sangma said that at a time when societies are still immersed in various social conflicts due to the Covid -19 pandemic, fundamental rights and many freedoms have been under constraints. A recovery from the pandemic cannot be complete without a plan built to further strengthen institutions of justice and secure the rights of those who are further behind, he added.

On the occasion, Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari launched the Facebook Page and YouTube Channel of MSLSA.