From CK Nayak
New Delhi: Cabinet Minister AL Hek on Sunday asserted that Meghalaya with its limited resources and manpower has done everything possible for expeditious and affordable justice including setting up of Fast Track Courts and Special Courts especially for rape cases.
The State has also extended legal aid to women, children, disabled persons, senior citizens and the marginalized sections of the society through the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, Hek said. With regard to Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR), mediation and conciliation, the same has been implemented by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, he said.
During the working session of the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts here on Sunday, Hek said that the Gram Nyayalayas Act does not apply to Meghalaya.
However the Government has requested the Centre to allocate funds instead for the normal functioning of the traditional institutions in place since time immemorial and the District Council Courts.
With regard to the proposal for having an All India Judicial Service in line with the All India Civil Services, presently Meghalaya does not agree with the same, he said.
With regard to infrastructure of subordinate judiciary in Meghalaya, it may be stated that administrative approval for permanent court buildings at Tura, Williamnagar, Nongpoh and Nongstoin has been accorded sanction and also administrative approval for temporary court buildings at Tura, Nongpoh, Nongstoin and Jowai have been intimated to the Union.
For strengthening the Juvenile Justice System in Meghalaya, the Principal Magistrates have been appointed in all the districts under the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, and the said Act has been implemented in the State by the Social Welfare department, Hek said.
The conference was attended by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chief Justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir, Union Minister of Law & Justice Dr Ashwani Kumar and others.
Hek represented Meghalaya in the absence of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who could not make it because of the State Legislative Assembly session which begins on Monday.
At the very end of the session, other vital issues were placed and discussed between the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the respective High Courts in the presence of the Union Minister of Law & Justice and the Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice.