From Our Correspondent
MAWKYRWAT: The Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya, Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal, on Saturday unveiled the plaque to mark the separation of the judiciary from the executive and inauguration of the Court of District & Sessions Judge, Mawkyrwat in the presence of Law Minister James K Sangma and Judge of the High Court of Meghalaya, Justice HS Thangkhiew in a meeting held at the Multipurpose Hall, Laitlawsang, here.
The state government had recently notified the separation of the subordinate judiciary from the executive in South West Khasi Hills district and the District & Sessions Court at Mawkyrwat will function from the temporary court complex until the completion of the permanent court building. Mittal also inspected the temporary court building at Laitlawsang and the permanent court building at Mawkyrwat.
Addressing the gathering, Mittal said that earlier, disputes between parties were settled by the headmen, Sordars, Syiems, Dolois and Nokmas, but as time passed by, society became more and more complicated.
“In those days the same executive magistrates used to exercise executive and judicial powers, which was wrong and beyond the Constitution,” he said.
He informed that the Preamble to the Constitution through Article 50 has recommended the separation of judiciary from the
executive to make the former independent and impartial and give hope to the justice seeker and for establishing rule of law. “The Constitution-makers also visualised that the separation of judiciary from executive is equally important at the grass root level as it is the subordinate judiciary which closely comes into contact with the people at large,” Mittal said.
“With the establishment of the subordinate court here at Mawkyrwat, I am sure that the District & Sessions Judge along with the officers who have been posted here will shoulder the responsibility to build a solid atmosphere in dispensation of justice free from any pressure or any influence from any quarter so to ensure fair and impartial, speedy and inexpensive trial and justice,” Mittal said.
He also hoped that full-fledged judiciary in the remaining three districts shall also start functioning shortly, preferably in the month of November,” he said.
Meanwhile, James K Sangma expressed happiness to have witnessed this day of separation of the judiciary from the executive.
He also said that the government is very committed to the separation of the judiciary from the executive in the rest of the districts. Commissioner and Secretary, Law Department, S Kharlyngdoh read out the notification for separation. The District & Sessions Judge, AM Ripnar, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, MK Diengdoh and Judicial Magistrate, RDK Sangma introduced themselves in the meeting.
Others present include Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton L Tongkhar, Ranikor MLA Pius Marwein, Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills, Isawanda Laloo and others.