By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 24: The KHADC is planning to approach the Ministry of Justice to strengthen its village courts and additional subordinate courts.
The objective is to ensure that the cases between tribal people are adjudicated by different courts under the council.
“We do not want the cases between the two tribals to go either to the lower courts or the high court,” the council’s Chief Executive Member, Pyniaid Sing Syiem said.
He said the adjudication of cases by the village or additional subordinate courts would save the people the trouble of coming all the way to Shillong for justice.
The KHADC had earlier urged the government to ensure that the extension of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) does not affect the powers of the district council courts.
There was a concern on the part of the KHADC that the implementation of CrPC and CPC would let the district and session court handle the cases between tribal people.
Syiem’s predecessor, Titosstarwell Chyne had said if the CrPC and CPC were implemented, the power of the judiciary in the KHADC would be diluted. Intra-tribal cases are currently tried at the level of the village court or the additional subordinate court, also known as the Hima court.
The KHADC is keen on working very closely with the Dorbar Shnongs and village Dorbars as part of its effort to streamline the functioning of the traditional institutions.
Syiem said the council is planning to integrate 3,205 localities and villages within its jurisdiction into its system. He claimed the council would be able to monitor more efficiently the functioning of the Dorbar Shnongs and villages Dorbars once they are in the system.
“We will be able to know who is doing well and who is lagging behind,” he said.
The functioning of the Dorbars can be monitored once the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, becomes an Act, Syiem said.
He cited the example of the Nongrim Hills Dorbar Shnong, which has computerised every aspect of jurisdiction, including the entry of residents in the locality.
“How many from the localities and villages in the five districts falling under the council have managed to do this?” he asked.
He said the KHADC has planned to provide computers for the offices of the Dorbar Shnongs and village Dorbars through the funds received under the 15th Finance Commission.
The KHADC has been trying to codify the laws of the 54 Himas under it. The proposals for codification were sent from 31 Himas and the Governor gave his assent to the codified laws of 16 of these Himas.
The Governor’s assent for the codified laws of 15 Himas is pending while 23 Himas have not sent their proposals.