Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 363/08

WORKSHOP ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZED

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Donkupar Roy today inaugurated the two day North Eastern Regional Workshop on Criminal Justice, National Security & Centre-State Cooperation and Decentralized Planning and Governance organized by the Commission on Centre-State Relations, New Delhi at Hotel Pine Wood, Shillong. The workshop was also attended by Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. R Chatterjee, Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), Mr. Falguni Rajkumar, (Retd) Justice, Mr. M M Punchhi, Additional Secretary, ISCS, Mrs. V Upadhayaya, Mr. V K Duggal, Member, Centre State Commission on Centre-State Relations, Mr. D Singh, Member, Centre State Commission on Centre State Relations besides other senior state government officials and delegates from the other North East Region.

In his inaugural speech, Dr. Roy said that in the system of governance operating essentially with a federal frame work, harmonious relations between the Centre and the States are critical for stability, security and economic growth of the country and for the welfare and well being of the people. He further stated that the Centre and the larger States need to be sensitive about the smaller States in the country, especially the resource profiles of these States both in terms of human as well as material resources, adding that over the years flows of funds, though adequate, is still leading to growing inequities. He also said that as far as Meghalaya is concerned, part X of the Constitution provides for the administration of the Scheduled and Tribal Areas. He then said that with the implementation of the NREGS and experiences in the social mobilization through the SHGs, cooperatives and other organizations.

On issues of national security, Dr. Roy said that the present security scenario in the country needs to be strengthened, adding that there is a need for dedicated intelligence gathering system with experts on subjects like terrorism, insurgency and fundamentalism. Since, most of the North Eastern States do not have adequate Police training facilities, Dr. Roy felt the need for the National Security Organization to impart technical training to State Police Officers.

With regard to Criminal justice system, Dr. Roy said that the system is virtually collapsing under its own weight as it is slow, inefficient and ineffective and people are losing confidence in the system, therefore, he said that there is dire need for a paradigm shift from accused oriented to victim oriented criminal justice system with adequate protection of the right of the accused. Stating that the real key to effective to criminal justice reform lies not so much in making sweeping changes of the law but in the manner in which the system is administered, Dr. Roy said that there is a need to built a appropriate checks and balances in anti-terrorists laws.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Meghalaya Chief Secretary, Mr. R Chatterjee Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), Mr. Falguni Rajkumar, (Retd) Justice, Mr. M M Punchhi and Additional Secretary, ISCS, Mrs. V Upadhayaya.