By Our Reporter
Shillong: The State is ready to get its own High Court but is still awaiting a formal communication from the Central Law Ministry, Deputy Chief Minister and in charge Law, BM Lanong, said on Saturday.
“With the infrastructure already in place, a separate High Court for Meghalaya is ready to function but this will depend on the response from the Union Law Ministry,” Lanong said while speaking to The Shillong Times.
Lanong was reacting to the news of the passing of the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012 by the Lok Sabha on Friday, paving the way for creation of separate high courts for the three Northeastern states of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura.
When asked about the funds earmarked for setting up of the separate high court, Lanong said once the Union Law Ministry gives the go ahead, funds will be worked out.
According to the Financial Memorandum of the Bill, the expenditure for setting up of the separate high courts would be borne by the respective state government. Stating that infrastructure is not a problem, Lanong said “We have already started work for the new building but at present we are still under the ambit of the Gauhati High Court”.
When asked if proposal has been forthcoming regarding appointment of judges for the separate high court, the Law Minister said that after the State gets its own high court, interviews and appointment will follow suit.
“We will work out and sit and see how to go about these things,” he said.
Lanong informed that the State government had, last year, written to the Prime Minister, the then Law minister and the Union Home Ministry to approve the State Government’s proposal to set up a separate high court.
“We have received replies from various departments but are awaiting the approval of the Law Ministry. A formal communication is all it takes to set everything in place,” Lanong added.