‘Little progress has been made in developing infrastructure’
SHILLONG: Days after Chief Minister Mukul Sangma claimed that the State is working in tandem with the High Court to expedite the process of separating the judiciary, an HC division bench on Tuesday observed that little progress has been made in developing infrastructure for the same.
After the Court sought the presence of officers concerned, the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries of Planning and Finance, the Law Secretary and the Chief PWD Engineer were present during the hearing on Tuesday.
“When we attempted to query the Advocate General with regards to several of the missing aspects concerning the requirement of judiciary, it was pointed out that the affidavit to be filed in this matter was almost ready and further that on February 16, the meeting of the Empowered Committee is slated and the pending proposals are likely to be cleared in this meeting,” the Court said.
According to the High Court, although while adjourning the matter on September 26 last year, it had expressed satisfaction that the required aspects were being attended to but had also indicated that the requisite tasks were to be handled with seriousness by all the persons and Departments concerned to ensure substantial progress and concrete results within the stipulated time.
The bench observed on Tuesday that “very little progress has been made” since the matter was adjourned last September.
The Court also indicated to the Advocate General as also to the Chief Secretary and other officers present that the April deadline for providing infrastructure like Court buildings and residential premises for the subordinate judiciary was set following the Supreme Court order.
However, the Court still deemed it proper to adjourn the matter after the Advocate General and the Chief Secretary assured it. The next hearing is on February 21.