Meghalaya

In a landmark verdict, the Meghalaya High Court has declared the ban on LASIK eye surgery for nurses as discriminatory, calling it “wholly arbitrary and unreasonable.” The ruling, delivered on July 9 by Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, has far-reaching implications for recruitment policies across India’s armed forces and healthcare services. The case was brought to the court’s attention by Smt. Naresh Kumari, a qualified staff nurse who was denied appointment in the Assam Rifles under the Rajasthan quota in 2017. Although she met all required qualifications, including the prescribed visual standards after undergoing LASIK surgery, she was rejected during the medical examination. The reason: recruitment guidelines barred subordinate officers—including nurses—from any kind o...

Shillong, July 10 (IANS) – On Thursday, officials announced that Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would travel to Meghalaya for three days starting on July 10 to attend a number of events. According to a Meghalaya government official, the visit would start with the Polo Shopping Complex's inauguration, and then there will be a meeting in Shillong under the Project Monitoring Information System. The Northeast Conclave and the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs campus at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong will be officially opened by the Finance Minister on July 11. Conrad K. Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya, would be the honoured guest. Sitharaman will also open an exhibition at the Lariti International Cen...

The producers of Janaki vs State of Kerala, featuring Union Minister Suresh Gopi, notified the Kerala High Court on Wednesday of their readiness to alter the film's title to V Janaki or Janaki V, as recommended by the Central Board of Film Certification. What did the cbfc object to The Censor Board has allowed certification for a film titled Janaki V, referring to the lead character, despite previous restrictions due to religious sensitivity. About Janaki vs State of Kerala Anupama Parameswaran and Pravin Narayanan both star in the Pravin Narayanan-directed movie, which follows a woman's fight for justice following an assault. After certification delays affected the movie's release date, the production firm, Cosmos Entertainments, went to court.

Meghalaya signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step toward the development of professional sports shooting facilities. In order to create organized training, infrastructure, and talent development for shooting sports, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Shooting Association of Meghalaya, and the state's Sports Department have reached an agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by state Sports Department representatives, NRAI Secretary General K. Sultan Singh, and Shooting Association of Meghalaya President John F. Kharshiing. The signing was witnessed by NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. "A structured roadmap for developing world-class shooting infrastructure in Meghalaya, ...

Tourism minister and government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh on Monday asserted that the hawkers will be relocated to MUDA complex by July 22 whereas the High Court-appointed special officer got time till August 5 to address the issue. The special officer, Subhasis Chakrawarty had met the Municipal authorities and the hawkers’  association to discuss the matter. He will be holding a joint meeting shortly.before submitting a report to the court. However, speaking to reporters in the city, Lyngdoh said the government is firm on implementing the deadline of July 22 for the relocation of hawkers and street vendors from Khyndailad area. Lyngdoh said, “The government expects complete compliance of the order for relocation of hawkers by July 22. We have adequate manpower and also the high c...

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday visited Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills to assess the tense situation following a recent confrontation over a tree plantation drive reportedly undertaken by authorities from neighboring Assam. The incident has once again brought the fragile Assam-Meghalaya border issue into sharp focus. Dhar, who also heads the Regional Committee for West Jaintia Hills and represents the Nartiang constituency, was accompanied by Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh, and Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanao. The visit comes in the aftermath of protests on June 25, when over 400 villagers from Lapangap and adjoining areas, supported by loc...

The AKMTTA has announced that tourist taxis from Meghalaya will not operate towards Guwahati or Assam on July 9, 2025, in support of the nationwide All India General Strike. The 24-hour strike on July 9 aims to address key demands for transport workers in India, including the withdrawal of the Motor Vehicle Reforms Act 2019, removal of the "Hit and Run" clause, immediate toll tax halt, simplification of pollution rules, provision of rest areas, and legal harassment. The association of taxi operators in Meghalaya has suspended services to Assam due to a strike, citing safety concerns. It has appealed to operators not to overcharge passengers, especially in emergencies or short-distance travel. Normal taxi services are expected to resume on July 10, 2025.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday said the state government will look into the recent incident of violence arising from a tree plantation drive allegedly undertaken by Assam authorities at Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills. Dhar, who also represents Nartiang constituency, visited Lapangap to assess the situation and ensure the safety of villagers. He was accompanied by Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council chief executive member Thombor Shiwat, deputy commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh and SP Jagpal Singh Dhanao.

Meghalaya Power minister Abu Taher Mondal on Tuesday said the state government has sought financial support from the Union Ministry of Power for critical transmission projects in the state worth Rs 2,270 crore. The request was made during the 16th National Power Committee (NPC) meeting, held recently here, under the aegis of NERPC which was attended by Ghanshyam Prasad, chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and NPC. Mondal who is also chairperson of North Eastern Region Power Committee (NERPC) said the Rs 2,270 crore project, which has received approval from CEA, will add 760 MVA of capacity and extend transmission lines by 190 circuit kilometres (Ckt km).