Jowai, Dec 7: Meghalaya Law Minister James Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the new building of District council Court of Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).

Inaugurating the District Council Court (DCC), the Minister said the inauguration of the building will help to strengthen District Council Court for expeditious disposing off cases. He said under the Sixth Schedule the DCC  has its own constitutional rights as mentioned in the Constitution under Article 244 and with the new building it will give a sense of public duty to move ahead to strengthen the dispensation of rights and justice.He further added that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India is a mini-Constitution covering the administration of the tribal areas of the North East India that aims at granting some form of autonomy to the tribal’s so that they could be guided by their customary laws and practises and not to be pushed to conform to modern system of governance where they might not be able to negotiate their own liberal political space and to grow according to their own genius.

JHADC Executive Member in-charge of CWD, Phasmon Dkhar, in his welcome address said that this day is a golden letter day to the people of Jaintia Hills as they have now the full fledged District Council Court building.

Speaking on the occasion JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat said under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the District council has three organs that consist of the District Council Court, Additional District Council Court and Subordinate District Council Court that also consist of the Village Court and justice have been dispensed in line with the traditional Customary law. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government of India for the financial assistance under the 13th Finance Commission for the construction of the District Council Court in Jowai and the Village Court of 19 Elakas.