By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 8: Often criticised over infrastructural facilities, Shillong would see some improvement in terms of infrastructure over the next five years, according to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the annexe building of the High Court of Meghalaya on Saturday, he said the mapping of small government spaces in the city is going on.
He said the government has identified land for judicial academy and National Law University. He said a multi-level parking will be also constructed.
Claiming that the government laid emphasis on infrastructure development in the last five years, he said it is difficult to make things happen in areas without basic infrastructure.
“There are many challenges but there is a strong effort from the government’s side to give push to infrastructure,” the CM reiterated.
He said the government is in an advanced stage to shift the Secretariat to New Shillong Township and the work for the same will start by the end of the current financial year. The government is going at a fast pace to shift important locations such as the jail, Cantonment areas and the Police Reserve, he said.
Further, he said the government is either renovating or constructing new buildings for around 2,500 government LP schools and they will be ready within this financial year.
Annexe building
Speaking about the newly inaugurated annexe building of the High Court, the CM said that the day marks a significant milestone in the expansion and enhancement of the state’s judicial infrastructure.
It may be noted that the annexe building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore over an area of 1.22 acre with a state-of-the-art auditorium for 300 people, a lounge, lobby and good parking space.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma highlighted the government’s commitment to overall infrastructure development in the state.
Stating that more than Rs 200 crore has been infused in judiciary from the state plan in recent years, Conrad emphasised the importance of a well-equipped and modern judicial infrastructure to ensure the effective delivery of justice.
The CM praised the High Court of Meghalaya for its commitment to upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and access to justice for all.
Welcoming the inauguration of the new annexe building as a step towards improvement of the overall functioning of the judiciary, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee underscored the importance of providing a conducive environment for judges, lawyers, and litigants to ensure the smooth and expeditious dispensation of justice.
Stating that the High Court of Meghalaya has grown in recent times and it did what it had to do, Banerjee said that the courts are perceived as a place where people are punished but he believes the rights of the citizens and individuals are recognised in Courts.
“Rule of law is … not always punishing,” he said, while adding that no one can accuse the judiciary in Meghalaya to be a blackhole.
Recalling that the court disposed more matters than what it received despite lockdown badly affecting it, the chief justice said that the High Court of Meghalaya is the first to have a hybrid mode with live-streaming of the hearings.