SHILLONG, FEB 25: The state government on Thursday assured to examine the proposal to urge the centre for considering appointing judges belonging to indigenous community in the Meghalaya high court.
The proposal was made the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) delegation during their meeting with the state deputy chief minister in-charge of law Rowel Lyngdoh on Thursday.
According to the HYC, the Meghalaya high court requires judges who belong to indigenous community as they understand the unique customs and traditions of the tribal in the state.
The demand was also made in view of the propose move of the centre to elevate the Meghalaya high court to four judges from the present strength which is only 3.
“We have urged the state government through the Dy CM to write to Ministry of Law and Justice for considering the proposal of appointing judges who belong to indigenous community in the high court,” HYC president Peter Lawai told reporters after the meeting.
He also said, “At the same, we have also requested the government to make a similar appeal to the Supreme Court keeping in mind that the state of Meghalaya is unique in term of traditional customs and practices.”
Stating that the first preference should be given to local indigenous, Lawai however said, “We would accept a judge from other communities who have been staying in the state and is acquainted with the knowledge about the uniqueness of the customary practices of the people here.”
Echoing similar views, HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “The proposal is being made because we feel that judges’ coming from other states finds it difficult to understand the traditional customary practices besides the land tenure system in the state.”
“The demand is to ensure for effective justice delivery system to the people of the state,” he said while adding “The council does not mean to underestimate the judges from outside but it just feels that it would take them time to really understand the unique custom and tradition of the state.”
According to him, the state is already having around 8 to 9 senior advocates (local) from the bar association and senior judges from the bench, who are qualified to be judges of the high court.
“Their services can be utilized as the situation warrants them for the interest of the people of the state,” he stated.
When asked, Kharjahrin said, “There is nothing wrong to appeal to the Supreme Court as the proposal does not mean that the government will try to influence or interfere with its decision.”
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister assured the delegation that the matter would be examined by the law department.
“He (Lyngdoh) told us that he would definitely consult the issue with the Chief Minister. He has also expressed that personally he feels that the proposal is genuine one,” Kharjahrin said.
Meanwhile, the HYC has met the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit urging them to also take up the proposal with the NDA led centre government.- By Our Reporter
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