Meghalaya

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Bar Council of Meghalaya and the Bar Council of India to submit detailed plans within two weeks outlining measures to ensure the safety and protection of women lawyers and law interns. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh issued the direction while hearing a petition related to the alleged assault of advocate AH Hazarika by members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF). During the hearing, the court expanded the scope of the matter to address broader concerns regarding the safety, dignity and security of women professionals and interns in the legal field. The court took note of the assurance given by the Bar Council of Meghalaya that complaint drop boxes for reporting sexual harassment...

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue standing orders prohibiting political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from holding press conferences or media briefings inside police stations and prisons across the state. The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh while hearing a case concerning the alleged assault and public humiliation of a senior advocate by members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF). During the hearing on Monday, the court was informed that an FIR had been registered at Sadar Police Station against HNYF members in connection with the incident. Four accused have been arrested so far, while medical reports submitted before the B...

The street vendors and hawkers at Laitumkhrah in the city will be relocated to designated vending zones by August 17, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday. Notices have been served to the vendors as part of an exercise taken up following a court order aimed at easing congestion on the streets. “We have served them notices. They should be shifted by August 17. There is also a court order,” Dhar told reporters in reply to a query. Department officials are in touch with the vendors to ensure a smooth transition. “We are having a dialogue and negotiating with them. It seems everything is moving in the right direction,” he said. Two designated vending zones have been identified for the hawkers at Laitumkhrah. “We have identified tw...

The Meghalaya government has imposed a prohibitory order banning roadside cooking, open fires and littering along the Shillong–Sohra–Shella Road and other public places within Sohra Civil Sub-Division to prevent environmental degradation and ensure public safety. The order, issued by Sohra Sub-Divisional Magistrate Miri Mark A. Chyne under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, follows reports of tourists and visitors cooking food at roadsides, viewpoints, parking areas and other undesignated locations. According to the order, such activities have led to indiscriminate dumping of food waste, plastic, bottles, disposable plates and packaging materials, causing pollution, attracting stray animals, obstructing traffic and affecting the natural beauty of the...

Young people across Meghalaya joined the nationwide ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ on Sunday by taking a collective pledge to stay away from substance abuse and contribute towards building a drug-free India. The campaign was conducted simultaneously at around 28,000 locations across the country, with the participation of more than one crore youth through virtual platforms. In Meghalaya, programmes were organised at the Lok Bhavan in Shillong and the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) campus in Ri-Bhoi. The events were connected virtually with the national launch of the campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the nation, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the important role of youth in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and called for ...

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), one of India’s leading test preparation and educational services organisations, has opened its first centre in Meghalaya and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assam Rifles to strengthen educational support for its personnel and their families. The new Aakash Institute centre in Shillong marks the organisation’s first physical presence in Meghalaya and becomes its 10th centre in the Northeast. Located at Holding No. 383, Don Bosco Square, Upland Road, opposite St Margaret’s H.S. School in Nongkynrih, Laitumkhrah, the 7,000-square-foot centre has six classrooms with a combined capacity of more than 300 students. The centre will offer coaching for NEET, IIT-JEE and other medical and engineering entrance examinations, enabling st...

The East Jaintia Hills district administration has dismissed viral social media claims alleging that a woman was forced to give birth inside a vehicle after being delayed by road obstructions during the public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement Limited project. In an official clarification, Deputy Commissioner ShivanshAwasthi said the administration investigated the matter after reports surfaced online claiming that RiniwankiSukhlain delivered her baby in a vehicle due to traffic disruptions linked to the public hearing. The inquiry was conducted by seeking a report from the Block Medical and Health Officer (BMHO) of Saipung Block. According to the findings submitted by the medical authorities, the viral claim was found to be false. The Deputy Commissioner stated that RiniwankiSu...

NB Marks has reinforced its communication services across Meghalaya, serving clients in Shillong and Tura with integrated Public Relations and Advertising solutions. The agency, which has more than 15 years of experience in the communications industry, provides services including corporate communications, government outreach, advertising, media management, and event publicity. Officials stated that its understanding of local culture and regional media enables the agency to create campaigns that strengthen brand visibility and public credibility. The CEO of NB Marks, Mr. Sandipan Pandit, mentioned that ‘Meghalaya’s tourism appeal, music culture, ecological richness, and socially connected communities offer a distinctive platform for brands to build meaningful public engagement through s...

Actor John Abraham has called for stronger action against the root causes of drug trafficking, stating that the drug menace can only be effectively addressed by dismantling the alleged political nexus behind the trade. Speaking at an anti-drug awareness programme organised by the Social Welfare Department in Shillong, the actor said that current efforts largely focus on controlling the consequences rather than eliminating the source of the problem. Responding to questions about the growing drug issue in Meghalaya, Abraham remarked that authorities are currently engaged in “firefighting,” which, while necessary, cannot provide a lasting solution. He stressed that meaningful progress would require action against influential individuals allegedly involved in the drug trade, adding that wi...