6th Schedule, ADC courts have helped improve case disposal rate: HC CJ

TURA, June 17: Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya, Justice Sanjib Banerjee, on Saturday said that the presence of Sixth Schedule and the District Council Courts in the state has taken a huge burden of personal disputes, thereby improving the case disposal rate.
The Chief Justice said this in his address at the inaugural programme for the new Circuit Court at Phulbari under Dadenggre Subdivision in West Garo Hills.
In his address, Justice Banerjee mentioned that the High Court of Meghalaya has one of the quickest case disposal rates in the country.
Stating that courts deal with the rights, justice and liberties of the people, he said one should not look at the court where people are punished.
It is the duty of the court to deliver justice for criminal cases, but the greater duty of the court is to protect the rights of the people, he said.
He also expressed hope that the Circuit Court at Phulbari will bring justice at the doorstep and assert the rights of the people.
Mentioning that Phulbari is expected to be the next commercial hub of the region, Justice Banerjee remarked that commercialisation can be a double-edged sword.
Stating that undesirable goods such as drugs can also come along with commercialisation, he cautioned the parents to be alert and keep children away from such harmful habits.
Meanwhile, Power Minister AT Mondal, who was also part of the programme, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice and the legal fraternity for the initiative, which, he said, will help the people of Dadenggre in the long run.
Calling it a first-of-its-kind initiative in the district, he said that people have utmost faith in the Judiciary.
West Garo Hills District and Sessions Judge AM Ripnar, on the other hand, said that the circuit court, which will temporarily function from the PWD Inspection Bungalow at Phulbari, is expected to provide easy access to the local litigants.
During the programme, the Tura Bar Association also presented different cultural items.
Earlier, the Chief Justice had inaugurated the Circuit Court in the presence of Justice HS Thangkhiew of High Court of Meghalaya, Power Minister, Joint Secretary of Law department D Lyngdoh, judicial officers from Garo Hills, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani, Superintendent of Police V Rathore, Nokma of the area, students, et al.