Meghalaya

Lawyers across Meghalaya intensified their agitation on Tuesday, October 7, demanding the removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar, alleging that he continued appearing in courts despite an assurance from the state government. Addressing the media after a rally in Shillong, Kishore Gautam said the lawyers had earlier met Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, following which an assurance was given that Amit Kumar would not appear before the Meghalaya High Court or any other court or tribunal in the state. However, Gautam alleged that Kumar subsequently continued to appear in both the High Court and trial courts. “After the meeting with the Chief Minister, an assurance was once again given to us that Mr. Amit Kumar will not appear in the High Court or any of the courts or tribunals in th...

The Meghalaya Cabinet on Wednesday approved a six-month extension of the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), allowing more time for completion of the election process. Speaking after the Cabinet meeting on October 7, Cabinet Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the extension was necessary as the delimitation process and preparation of the electoral roll were still underway. Shylla said the previous six-month extension was due to expire on October 17. He explained that there was a provision to extend the council’s term for a total period of one year, with the Cabinet now approving the second six-month extension. He said the election could not be conducted earlier due to an “unfortunate incident” and the situation that had arisen in Garo Hills. Since then, the go...

As many as 1,510 voters have been found ineligible for inclusion in Meghalaya’s final electoral rolls following hearings under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari said on October 6. Nearly 20 lakh electors have, meanwhile, been cleared for inclusion in the final electoral roll, which is scheduled to be published on October 26. Tiwari said the documents submitted by the 1,510 electors found ineligible were not in order. According to the CEO, the draft electoral roll contained 21,69,243 electors, of whom notices were generated for 6,51,735 people. As many as 6,51,391 of these notices have been delivered. Hearings have so far been completed in 6,13,512 cases, accounting for 94.14 per cent of the notices generated, while 19,96,297 electors...

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah's scheduled Meghalaya visit has been cancelled, according to an official communication from the Union Home Ministry. His tour programme covering Telangana, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Delhi was cancelled through a notice referring to TP No. 96/UHM/2026 and subsequent revisions issued on October 1 and 2. The notice does not specify the reason for the cancellation or whether the visit will be rescheduled.

The dispute over Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar has widened into an internal rift within the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association, with its president disowning a court boycott call and questioning the secretary’s unilateral actions on the issue. In a letter to Bar Association Secretary Kishore Ch Gautam on October 1, President KS Kynjing expressed “serious dissatisfaction” over communications, press statements and decisions taken in the name of the association without the approval of its executive committee. Kynjing said Gautam had written to the Supreme Court Bar Association on August 17 over the Advocate General issue without first placing the matter before the executive committee. He also objected to press releases and a press conference allegedly being conducted withou...

A massive cleanliness drive swept across Meghalaya on Friday as students, local communities, government departments, and various stakeholders united under the theme “Ek Din, Ek Saath, Ek Ghanta” as part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign. Organized by the Directorate of Urban Affairs through the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), the expansive sanitation initiative spanned the route from Nongpoh to Sohra, drawing widespread participation from citizens eager to contribute to a cleaner environment. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar spearheaded the event, emphasizing that the campaign was designed to fundamentally transform the state’s civic landscape through collective action and a permanent shift in public mindset. Highlighting that civic maintenance cannot rely solely on ...

Meghalaya Police have put in place elaborate security and traffic arrangements ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s two-day visit to the state on October 4 and 5. Shah is scheduled to visit Meghalaya to attend a special ceremony for the presentation of the President’s Colours to the Meghalaya Police, a prestigious recognition for the state police force. Meghalaya Director General of Police Vivek Syiem said detailed security arrangements have been made along the routes that will be taken by the Union Home Minister. Special teams, along with personnel from various police units, will be deployed as part of the security operation. Around 1,500 police personnel are likely to be deployed across the state during the visit. Traffic restrictions, diversions likely The DGP said t...

The President of the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association, KS Kynjing, has expressed serious displeasure over what he described as unilateral decisions taken by the association’s secretary, Kishore Ch Gautam, in matters concerning Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar. In a letter to Gautam, Kynjing objected to a communication sent to the Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), press statements and a joint meeting that resulted in a call to boycott courts and tribunals across Meghalaya from October 1. Kynjing said the communication to the SCBA dated August 17 was sent without being placed before or discussed by the Executive Committee of the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association. “Such an important matter, having a direct bearing upon the dignity, reputation a...

East Khasi Hills Police has ordered an inquiry into alleged illegal money collection from truck drivers at Mawkhanu and Thangshalai, with the constables involved set to be suspended. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, SP Vivek Syiem said the action followed videos circulated on social media over the KSU allegations. He said the constables had been deployed for patrolling and truck security, but the manner of checking shown in the videos was not proper and raised suspicion of possible illegal collection. The constables have been identified and will be suspended during the inquiry. The district transfer committee will also decide whether the concerned OCS should be transferred. Syiem urged truck drivers not to pay money to police and to report any illegal demand through the poli...