Committee to regulate fees for medical, nursing courses
SHILLONG, June 25: The Meghalaya government has established a fee committee to regulate and fix fees for medical and nursing courses in government institutions. Headed by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department, the committee will oversee the fee structure of these institutions. The committee will require medical institutions to submit their proposed fee structure, along with relevant documents and financial records, for scrutiny before the academic year begins. It will verify whether the proposed fees are justified and do not amount to profiteering or capitation fees. Based on its findings, the committee will either approve the fee structure or determine an alternative fee that institutions can charge.
Parl panel with Saleng discusses code of conduct for judges
SHILLONG, June 25: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice, which includes Tura MP Saleng Sangma as a member, recently held a detailed discussion on the code of conduct for judges in the higher judiciary. A key topic of discussion was the practice of post-retirement appointments for judges, with the committee deliberating on the need for a mandatory cooling-off period before retired judges take up new roles in government or other institutions. During the meeting, the case of sitting High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma was reportedly raised by some Members of Parliament, who cited the controversy surrounding him as relevant to the committee’s agenda. According to sources, the members used this case to highlight the urgency of implementing stricter norms to uphold judicial independence and integrity. The deliberations come at a time when questions are increasingly being raised about the post-retirement engagements of judges and their implications for judicial impartiality.
EGH police busts theft gang, 4 held
TURA, June 25: East Garo Hills District busted a gang of thieves and arrested four persons on Monday, who were suspected to be involved in a theft case in which miscreants had broken into a stock house in Williamnagar on June 11 night and had stolen some construction materials and other items. The four arrested were identified as Bikan D Sangma (38), Jetlow R Marak a.k.a Ajit (23), Sengba N Marak (25), and Pebiriush G Marak a.k.a Pebut (30). Police recovered from them huge quantities of 16 mm, 12 mm, 10 mm and 8 mm iron rods, CP Plus CCTV cameras, grinder machine, LED monitor, ceiling fan and a Bolero Pik-up bearing registration number ML13 A 6609 used for theft.
ANTF nabs two drug suppliers
SHILLONG, June 25: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested two major drug suppliers from Shillong, while another accused is currently absconding. According to ANTF, on Tuesday evening, information was received from the In-Charge of Cantonment Beat House that based on source inputs, one Rohit Mattu had been detained in the Cantonment area on strong suspicion of possessing contraband (heroin). Sub-Inspector Pradeep Das and other personnel were immediately deputed to the location to take necessary action. Upon arriving near NEHA Transport, opposite the Cantonment Beat House, the team found Rohit Mattu holding a small red carton box. A body search was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses, during which a soap case box containing heroin weighing 10.26 grams was recovered. During interrogation, Mattu revealed that he worked for one Ansh Sher Gill, also known as Suraj Gill, at a hardware store in the Cantonment area near Jowai Stand. He identified Suraj Gill as the main supplier of heroin in the Cantonment and adjoining areas. He also disclosed that Gill had previously been involved in illegal activities. Based on this, Suraj Gill was taken into custody. A preliminary inquiry revealed that Gill used the hardware store as a front for his drug operations and employed Rohit Mattu, Raman Raina, and Rohit Honda to distribute heroin in the Shillong area. Further questioning of Raman Raina led to the discovery that Suraj Gill had rented a house in the Raid Laban area under the names of Raina and Honda. He admitted that heroin was being stored in a cupboard in that rented house. A subsequent search of the premises led to the seizure of 15 soap cases containing heroin, weighing a total of 152.26 grams, in the presence of independent witnesses. In total, 162.52 grams of heroin have been seized during the operation. The third accused, Rohit Honda, remains absconding.