From CK Nayak
New Delhi: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Sunday said the State government has provided many facilities and amenities to the nascent High Court of Meghalaya and other judiciary but wanted the Centre to provide funds for judicial heads as per the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission.
Speaking at the conference of the chief ministers and chief justices here, the chief minister pointed out that the 14th Finance Commission has recommended only Rs 90.06 crore for Meghalaya, meant for establishment of additional courts, FTC, Lok Adalat, ADR centre, capacity building, digitization, re-designing existing courts and technical man power support.
The fund, which includes devolution of financial powers to the State, is required to be examined by the Planning and Finance Departments for which they have been requested to do so. The 14th Finance Commission earmarked Rs 25 crore for establishment of a judicial academy in Meghalaya; however, allocation of fund from Government of India is not yet received, he said.
Like the overall deficit scenario of judiciary in all other parts of the country the High Court of Meghalaya, too, is running on half strength, the chief minister said. The strength of the High Court was increased from three to four last year but now there is only judge besides the Chief Justice.
Meghalaya State legal Services Authority is looking after legal aid service but the experience is that only few lawyers have come forward for this service, the chief minister said. The Social Welfare department of the State is implementing the provisions of Juvenile Justice Law.
The chief minister also demanded that posting of Law Secretary and Legal Remembrancer should be under the ambit of the state government.
Posting Judicial Officer as Law Secretary by the High Court will encroach the jurisdiction of the state government. Meghalaya has its own rules vide Meghalaya Legal Service Rules, 1985 and appointment to Law Secretary as Legal Remembrancer is made as per the said rules.
As far as much needed separation of Judiciary from Executive is concerned, substantial achievement has been attained in creating and development of infrastructure of subordinate courts. The Government of India has been requested to provide funding support to establish e-Courts in six districts and fours sub-divisional courts.
For reduction of arrears and ensuring speedy trial the matter should be dealt by the courts by holding Lok Adalats in every district court/ sub-division court and district council courts. Government of Meghalaya will also make endeavour to lend support with regard to prosecution investigation etc., enabling quick disposal by the learned court, he stated.
The State government has taken initiative to bring legislation in the name of ‘Meghalaya Special Courts Act, 2014’ through which special courts for dealing with the cases against women and children are being considered to be set up, he added.