Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 981/20

CHIEF JUSTICE LAYS BASE FOR OBSERVATION HOME AT TEBRONGGRE

Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Shillong, Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder laid the Foundation Stone for the Permanent Building of the Observation Home (Boys and Girls) today at Tebronggre under Rongram Block, West Garo Hills in the presence of Shri James P K Sangma, Minister incharge Law, Government of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice H S Thangkhiew, Judge cum Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Meghalaya, Shillong, E Kharumnuid, Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder said that this is a paradigm shift for children in conflict with law adding that earlier children in conflict with law were put together with adult convict and children cannot be treated as criminals, he said. For this reason, observation home is required so that children can be kept in these homes for observation and to ensure necessary guidance and counselling for them, he said. Moreover, he also expressed his satisfaction for the exquisite place and environment where they can also closely associate with nature and render more services in future.

Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister, Shri James P K Sangma expressed his thankfulness to be part of the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Observation Home and said that the Observation Home is very important for the Judicial System and having a permanent building in West Garo Hills District is something to be proud of and looks forward for setting up more observation homes in all the districts of Meghalaya, he added. He also thanked the land donor for donating the land for the said purpose and the concerned department for their initiatives for the success of this observation home.

In his speech, Mr. Justice H S Thangkhiew, Judge cum Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Meghalaya said that the Observation Home is an absolute necessity and efforts to set up this observation home in Garo Hills have been ongoing since last year, but due to unforeseen circumstances the inauguration got delayed. Further, he advised everyone to be more conscious and aware on the rise of juvenile delinquency and said that observation home is necessary since those children in conflict with law cannot be given bail and they require this kind of place as a rehabilitation centre so that they can be taught, counselled and become better citizens in future.

It may be mentioned that Crinathson A Sangma, a resident of Tebronggre village under Rongram C & RD Block has generously donated 20 Bighas of his land for the construction of the said Observation Home at Tebronggre.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Director, Social Welfare Department, Meghalaya Shillong, Shri D D Shira and District Social Welfare Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura Hemaritha Ch Sangma. Judge, High Court of Kolkatta, Arindam Sinha, Member, High Court of Kolkatta, Ramesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Incharge and PD, DRDA, West Garo Hills C N Sangma, Superintendent of Police, WGH Dr. M G R Kumar, Judges of the District, SDO (Civil) Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division, Syeed Fakhruddin Hamid, Block Development Officer, Rongram C & RD Block, Shelley Momin, Members of Judicial Services and Child Welfare Committee, Officials of various departments, Nokma and people of the area were among others who attended the function.