Matrilineal Meghalaya gets woman CJ

SHILLONG, MAR 23: Justice T Meena Kumari was sworn in as the chief justice of Meghalaya high court, which will be inaugurated on March 25 by Chief Justice of India justice Altamas Kabir, by Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday. She will not only be the first chief justice of the new full-fledged high court of the state, but also the first woman chief justice.

Justice Kumari is a judge of the Patna High court and hails from Andhra Pradesh.

So far Meghalaya had only the Shillong bench of the Guwahati High court, which is considered as one of the reasons for low conviction rate in crimes apart from increasing crimes against women.

However from March 25, the state will have its own high court apart from Manipur and Tripura.

After being administered the oath of office,  Justice Kumari told reporters her first priority would be to see that fast-track courts are set up in the state.  She said, “The fast tract courts have to be established and I will take up this matter.”

Justice Kumari said,  “I feel this is an opportunity given by God to serve a matrilineal state like Meghalaya and let us hope for the best.”  She promised to try her best to live up to the expectations of the people of the Meghalaya.

Kumari, however, said she will first settle down and understand the problems of the region besides the pending cases.

Later Kumari also administered the oath of office to two judges – TMK Singh and SR Sen at the Shillong High Court. – By Our Reporter

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