Police official to be present in court for 3rd day
SHILLONG: For the third day on Friday, former Tura SP Mukesh Singh, who is currently holding the post of DIG, will be present in the High Court of Meghalaya in connection with the custodial death case of Balsan Marak.
The Division Bench will hear the case for the third day after the Court wanted specific replies and affidavits on certain queries posed.
Balsan, who was arrested in connection with the torture of 12 girls in Tura, died on May 20, 2014 while in judicial custody after being brought from Tura district jail to the civil hospital for treatment.
Later, the mother of the deceased, Meena Marak, filed a petition in the High Court seeking compensation and an inquiry by the CBI.
PDF confident of bagging Umsning
NONGPOH: Prominent leaders of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), who addressed a rally in Umsning on Thursday, buoyed by the huge gathering sounded confident about winning the Ri Bhoi seat.
PDF chairman PN Syiem, while addressing a gathering of thousands of people at the rally at Patarim in the constituency, urged people to ensure change by voting for the party’s candidate from Umsning, Jason Mawlong.
Targeting the Congress, Syiem said the incumbent party’s legislators “have failed miserably in legislating and implementing laws”. He stated the instances of the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act, the Parliamentary Secretaries Act and the dual posts to drive his point home.
Shylla pitches for ’73 district council clause in MUDA law
SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) candidate from Nongkrem, HS Shylla, has reiterated the need for amending the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2004.
Raising the alleged encroachment in Laitkor by MUDA, Shylla, in a media statement, said he would amend the act by incorporating Section 1 (2) of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973. The Section 1 (2) of the 1973 Act states, “It shall extend to the whole of Meghalaya excluding Autonomous Councils. Provided that any District Council desires that or any of the provisions of the Act should apply to the Autonomous District concerned, a notification may be issued to that effect and this Act shall then extend to that Autonomous District subject to such exceptions or modifications as may be specified in the notification.” The amended Act of 2004 has taken away the portion regarding “exception to areas under district councils” and only states, “It shall come into force at once.”
Shylla pitches for ’73 district council clause in MUDA law
SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) candidate from Nongkrem, HS Shylla, has reiterated the need for amending the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2004.
Raising the alleged encroachment in Laitkor by MUDA, Shylla, in a media statement, said he would amend the act by incorporating Section 1 (2) of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973. The Section 1 (2) of the 1973 Act states, “It shall extend to the whole of Meghalaya excluding Autonomous Councils. Provided that any District Council desires that or any of the provisions of the Act should apply to the Autonomous District concerned, a notification may be issued to that effect and this Act shall then extend to that Autonomous District subject to such exceptions or modifications as may be specified in the notification.” The amended Act of 2004 has taken away the portion regarding “exception to areas under district councils” and only states, “It shall come into force at once.”
Chief Justice lays base for judicial academy
SHILLONG: The foundation stone for the permanent building of the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy (MSJA) was inaugurated on Thursday by Chief Justice Tarun Agarwala in the presence of Justice SR Sen and the Rangbah Shnong of Umsawli, among others at Umsawli, Mawpat.
Agarwala said MSJA was established as mandated by the Law Commission and the Supreme Court with the objective to develop the judicial system. The Academy would offer in-service training to subordinate judges through awareness, knowledge and skill development in the delivery of justice. He also pointed out that the academy, spread over 25 acres of land, would house the most advanced facilities and faculties to impart quality training to judicial officials.
Mistakes in MBoSE
textbook irk KSU
SHILLONG: The education cell of the Khasi Students’ Union expressed shock and anger over the “carelessness” with which the MBoSE textbook for Class IX Social Science was written and demanded that publication of the book be stopped. In a statement issued here, the union said the authors blindly wrote the book without doing their research on the culture and tradition of the Khasis. KSU criticised the negligence of the Education Department and demanded that it should take responsibility for the matter.
Regional parties respond to workers’ plight
SHILLONG: 13 unions along with TUR had submitted a working people’s charter to all political parties highlighting the various issues faced by working people in the state with a request that they indicate their commitments to the same. However, TUR said on Thursday that it was a concern for the citizens of Meghalaya that other than KHNAM which gave a written response to specific points raised in the charter, no other party felt it even necessary to respond. According to TUR, while KHNAM has indicated its commitment to the struggle for raising the minimum wage in the state, equal pay for equal work, preventing sexual harassment at workplace, reservation policy for domiciles in central govt institutions, and abolishing of contract labour other parties like UDP and HSPDP verbally pointed out that the issue of raising the minimum wages is of concern to them. However, their manifestoes have nothing concrete on this. The PDF highlighted in its manifesto the need for a labour policy, but did not give details, TUR added.
Body recovered
SHILLONG: One unknown male dead body was found on the PWD road side between Laitlyngkot and Kyrdemkhla village on Wednesday. Red plastic rope was tied around the arms and legs of the deceased and a black muffler was tied around his neck. The deceased also had a tattoo of the numbers “786” on both his arms. The body was sent to Civil Hospital for post mortem and is now being kept in the morgue. He appears to be a non tribal between 30-35 years of age. He has a fair complexion with a beard and moustache and is approximately 5ft. He was found wearing black track pants, a black striped t-shirt and a grey colored jumper.