Khliehriat, June 5: The Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Sanjib Banerjee, on Saturday inaugurated the permanent Court Building of the District and Session Court, East Jaiñtia Hills District, Khliehriat in the presence of State Law Minister James P.K. Sangma, Justice H.S. Thangkhiew, Justice W. Diengdoh.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee congratulated the people of the district and expressed his thanks to the state government for the completion of the beautiful infrastructure (District Sessions Court building) considering the short time that the judiciary has be separated. “The plaque that was unveiled does not have any name and that is how public duty should be discharged. It has to be nameless faceless, not conscious of who is doing it and to whom it is being done, it’s a duty and an obligation, it’s not a privilege or a matter of choice,” he said.
He also said “the state has done its bid by giving the infrastructure and it is for us to show ourselves to be worthy of it by manning it appropriately”. He also stated that the court is the protector of rights, it is a place where rights are recognized and rights are appropriately handed down to the deserving.
The Chief Justice also informed that in the course of this month, the High Court will begin an exercise which will be an example for the rest of the country. “We are having the functioning of the High Court audited by an independent agency, for our faults and deficiency to be pointed out so that instead of brushing the mistake under the carpet, we can acknowledge them and correct ourselves as we go in to the future,” he informed while also stating that the report will be a public document and open to anybody who is interested to take a look.
“We already have a virtual system operating in tandem with the physical system that has several advantages wherein a lawyer can attend their matter on the virtual platform, also, through the virtual system lawyers can link in and be able to witness the proceeding from where ever they are, which will save a lot carbon footprint and save a lot of energy and time and most importantly the young lawyers will get the opportunity of seeing senior advocates from other parts of the country participating on the virtual platform and this will raised the local standard and the aspiration of the younger lawyers,” he further said.
Addressing the gathering, Meghalaya Law Minister James P.K. Sangma said the Court plays a very vital role and he assured that the Government will extend all the assistance and commitment to strengthen the judicial system in Meghalaya. “We are also in the process of establishing the National Law College which is a dream of the Chief Justice of High Court, that we must establish this as soon as possible,” he said.
He also wished all the judicial officers the very best and believed that they will meet the satisfaction of the people of this district. “In this district, a total of 976 cases had been successfully handled, although there are still many backlog cases, I am extremely confident that under the leadership of District and Sessions Judge and under her guidance and the entire team these backlog cases will be dispense very soon,” he added.
The Minister further stated that separation of judiciary from the executive is necessary due to the fact that certain function(s) must not be exercised by any work organ of the Government, a system of check and balance should be put in place between pillars of democracy. He also said that separation of the judiciary will bring justice closer to people and it becomes cheaper and faster as the disposal of cases has become much easier than before.
The Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya, along with the Law Minister, Justice H.S. Thangkhiew, Justice W. Diengdoh, also planted a sapling in the campus of the District and Session Court building.
