Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 563/20

RAJ BHAVAN, SHILLONG

The Deputy Secretary to the Governor of Meghalaya has informed that in connection with the Independence Day, 2020, the Raj Bhavan, Shillong will not be open for the general public on 14th and 15th August, 2020 due to the current situation of COVID-19 in Shillong agglomeration.

Press Release No. 566/20

ORDER FOR CONTAINMENT AREA

Due to the detection of positive COVlD-19 cases/high risk contacts in Jairam Roy compound, Mawbah Barapathar and due to the recent high risk and low risk contact with the COVID-19 positive cases the vulnerable and affected areas require aggressive contact tracing, quarantine, testing and isolation as well as containment in the interest of the health of the general public against any possible spread of COVID-19, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, in an order issued on 12th August, 2020 has declared the Jairam Roy compound, Mawbah Barapathar as containment area so as to restrict unregulated entry and exit movement on site. The order states that no person and public are allowed to move into the containment area and inhabitants within the containment area must not move out and to strictly remain inside their homes. Gatherings, events, functions whatsoever of any nature and forms including social, political, religious, economic activities are not allowed.

All shopping establishments of whatsoever nature shall be closed immediately and availability of essential and medical requirements for purchase will be ensured through various teams formed by the District Administration. All Government and private institutions located within the boundary of the containment area to close forthwith, till further orders. According to the order, the Incident Commander, Zone-IV will be the Supervising Officer of the Jairam Roy compound, Mawbah Barapathar which is declared as Containment area. The order, however, will not apply to health workers and essential workers of Shillong Municipal Board, press including electronic and print media, petrol pumps and LPG delivery workforce. Any violation of the order will entail prosecution under the penal provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and IPC.

Press Release No. 567/20

CONTAINMENT ORDER LIFTED

Based on the contact tracing status and test reports of the high risk contacts in the compound of Sanisha Kharlukhi at Mawbah Barapathar, and in view of the reports received thereof, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in the orders issued on 12th August, 2020 has lifted the containment order for the compound of Sanisha Kharlukhi at Mawbah Barapathar with immediate effect.

Press Release No. 568/20

JUDICIARY SEPERATED FROM EXECUTIVE IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT

Hon’ble Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder today unveiled the plaque to mark the separation of the Judiciary from the Executive and inauguration of the court of the District and Sessions Judge, Khliehriat in the presence of Judges, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice H.S. Thangkhiew and Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Law Minister, Shri. James P.K. Sangma and Social Welfare Minister, Shri. Kyrmen Shylla at a programme held at the Parking Lot, old Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Khliehriat.

During his address on the occasion, the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice Biswanath Somadder said that the judiciary is separated from the executive in order to make justice more accessible to the people while also stating that the judiciary is an institution which steps in whenever there is a dispute particularly concerning interpretation of the law laid down by either the parliament or the state legislature. On the occasion, the Chief Justice also spoke of the relationship between the executive, legislature and the judiciary and stated that there is a need for separation of these three institutions so that none of them can cause havoc to the people in a democratic setup and to avoid conflict of interest as they each have their own functions and roles while also adding that the three must work in tandem in order to maintain a delicate balance. “Article 50 of the Indian Constitution mandates that we must have this separation of the judiciary from the executive”, he said, further adding that the segregation of the executive from the judiciary will bring about access to justice and will benefit the people of the District.

The Chief Justice also took the occasion to thank the State Government for the support as the District has now reached a milestone whereby people can get access to justice with the segregation that allows only Judicial Officers to take up those matters of dispute which were earlier taken up by the officers of the executive, that is, the District Administration. He informed that the District Legal Services Authority will now step in and reach out to the block level to find out whether the people are getting access to justice and more importantly, access to quality justice. He also called upon the headmen and the people of the District to render full cooperation to the State Legal Services Authority or the District Legal Service Authority whose task is to ensure that each person residing within the District gets access to this set up without any hindrance.

Law Minister, Shri. James P.K Sangma, in his speech stated that the day is a red letter day for the people of District and the State as a whole even as he congratulated all those involved in making the event a success. He also informed that East Jaintia Hills District is the ninth District in the state where the judiciary has been separated from the executive and also stated that the objective of the separation is to bring justice closer to the people. On the occasion, the Minister expressed his sense of appreciation and gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner and the officers for having given their best in the delivery of justice in the past, in spite of being burdened with various other responsibilities. He also said that the importance of the District level Judiciary in the justice delivery system cannot be emphasized enough as it is in the district level that the vast majority of cases are heard and decided, while further adding that the District Court is the forum where the litigating public first and foremost interacts with the judicial system. “The perception of the judiciary in the eyes of the ordinary citizens is shaped by the working of the District Judiciary and perhaps that is the point from where the faith in the delivery of justice begins”, said the Minister while also stating that an effective, efficient and modern system for justice administration at the district level is the pillar of judicial legitimacy and is essential for sustaining people’s faith in the legal system.

Speaking on the status of cases in the District, the Minister said that there are many pending cases, yet, with the court of the District and Session Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Magistrate now being put in place, the scenario of disposal of cases is expected to come down and with the establishment of these courts in the District it will help in promoting the justice delivery system.

During the programme, Commissioner and Secretary, Law Department, Shri. W. Khyllep read out the notification for separation of the Judiciary from the Executive in the District. Others who also spoke during the programme include Shri. Kyrmen Shylla, Social Welfare Minister, Shri F.M Dopth, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District and Shri. R. War, Advocate, Khliehriat. During the function, the Judicial Officers of the District also introduced themselves to the gathering. Among others present on the occasion were MLAs and MDCs of the District, Smt. G. Rani, District and Sessions Judge, East Jaintia Hills, other Judicial Officers, Shri. Deepak Kumar Palecha, Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, District Heads, Headmen and Doloi.

Press Release No. 569/20

ORDER FOR CONTAINMENT AREA

Due to the detection of positive COVlD-19 cases/high risk contacts in the house of Hrishikesh Chakraborty, Burnside Compound, Near Sankardev Girls Hostel, Rilbong due to recent high risk and low risk contact with the COVID-19 positive cases and because vulnerable and affected areas require aggressive contact tracing, quarantine, testing and isolation as well as containment in the interest of the health of the general public against any possible spread of COVID-19, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, in an order issued on 12th August, 2020 has declared the house of Hrishikesh Chakraborty, Burnside Compound, Near Sankardev Girls Hostel, Rilbong as a containment area so as to restrict unregulated entry and exit movement on site. The order states that no person and public are allowed to move into the containment area and inhabitants within the containment area must not move out and to strictly remain inside their homes. Gatherings, events, functions whatsoever of any nature and forms including social, political, religious, economic activities are not allowed. All shopping establishments of whatsoever nature shall be closed immediately and availability of essential and medical requirements for purchase will be ensured through various teams formed by the District Administration. All Government and private institutions located within the boundary of the containment area are to close forthwith, till further orders. According to the order, the Incident Commander, Zone-II will be the Supervising Officer of the house of Hrishikesh Chakraborty, Burnside Compound, Near Sankardev Girls Hostel, Rilbong which is declared as a Containment area. The order, however, will not apply to health workers and essential workers of the Shillong Municipal Board, Press including electronic and print media, Petrol pumps and LPG delivery workforce. Any violation of the order will entail prosecution under the penal provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and IPC.