Tura, March 23: Marking a significant milestone in the state’s judicial infrastructure, bringing justice closer to the people inhabiting the oldest civil sub-division of Garo Hills, the permanent court building of the Sub-Divisional Court for Dadenggre Civil Sub-division region was virtually inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, I P Mukerji, on Saturday morning.
The ceremony was held in the presence of distinguished dignitaries- namely Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma, Meghalaya Law Minister M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Meghalaya High Court Justices H S Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh, Dadenggre MLA Rupa M Marak, Registrar General of the High Court of Meghalaya, E Kharumnuid, Joint Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Law Department, D Lyngdoh, other Distinguished dignitaries, Nokmas and people of the area.
In his virtual address, Chief Justice I P Mukerji expressed his gratitude for being part of the inauguration and emphasized the importance of the new court in upholding the basic human rights of the marginalized and underprivileged.
He highlighted the historical journey of the court’s establishment, noting that the initial 7 acres of land were allotted in 2017, with an additional 6.76 acres allocated in 2021 for residential units. The foundation stone for the project was laid on October 16, 2020.
The newly inaugurated court complex boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including courtrooms, a video conferencing room, office spaces, security barracks, and a separate block for vulnerable witnesses.
Justice Mukerji also recalled the separation of the district judiciary in Dadenggre in 2013, with the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court becoming operational on March 24, 2014. Until now, the Sub-Divisional Court had been functioning from the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Dadenggre.
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma, lauded the inauguration as a transformative moment for the region, calling the court complex a “symbol of justice and equality.” He stressed the importance of decentralizing judicial infrastructure to ensure timely and accessible justice for all, particularly for grassroot communities. The Speaker expressed hope that the new court would alleviate the hardships faced by residents who previously had to travel long distances to seek legal remedies.
Echoing these sentiments, Meghalaya Law Minister M Ampareen Lyngdoh, emphasized that access to justice is a fundamental right. She highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring justice reaches every corner of the state, citing the high number of pending cases in the region.
The law minister revealed that, as per the database, there are over 7243 cases which were either pending or have been disposed of in the Phulbari circuit court.
Mentioning that the Phulbari Circuit Court in West Garo Hills is the First Circuit Court in the State, she said that it was established due to the high number of cases indicated and this decision reflects the government’s core agenda to bring legal remedies to the doorstep of its people. She expressed hope that the establishment of the Sub-Divisional Court at Dadenggre would ease the burden for the delivery of justice to the people.
The minister also reminded the public that under Article 39 A of the Constitution of India which provides Equal justice and Free Legal Aid, these services are being provided to the people by District Legal Services Authority and other legal providers, urging the Judge and legal fraternity of this court to deliver justice effectively in future.
Justice H S Thangkhiew, Portfolio/Administrative Judge of Meghalaya High Court, underscored the significance of the new Dadenggre court in strengthening the pillars of justice. He emphasized the need for transparent, effective, and accessible legal services to uphold the rule of law.
The MLA of Dadenggre, Rupa M Marak, expressed pride in the establishment of the Sub-Divisional Court, noting its potential to bring justice closer to the people of his constituency. He also highlighted the importance of separating the executive and judiciary to ensure impartiality and efficiency in the legal process.
During the programme. The District and Sessions Judge for West Garo Hills District Tura, A M Ripnar highlighted the background and establishment of the Dadenggre Sub-Division Court comprising of 3 Civil Sub-Divisions namely Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division, Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division, Jengjal Civil Sub-Division and 7 Police Stations, the opening of the Phulbari Circuit Court by which there are 2 benches one in Dadenggre and one in Phulbari Circuit Court.
