JHADC urged to set up reception office and judicial branch in East Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 23, 2025

In a move aimed at bringing governance closer to the grassroots, a memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Executive Member of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), urging the immediate establishment of a Reception Office and a Judicial Branch at Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills.

The submission, made by Kerlang Ksoo, a resident of Dkhiah West, highlights the long-standing challenges faced by the people of East Jaintia Hills, who are compelled to travel to Jowai for all official and legal matters due to the absence of JHADC offices in their district.

According to the memorandum, even routine tasks—such as purchasing forms or submitting applications—require costly and time-consuming travel to Jowai, creating a significant burden on rural residents, particularly farmers and daily wage earners. The situation is even more dire for litigants, who must journey to the district headquarters in West Jaintia Hills to access judicial services.

Highlighting the principle of decentralised governance, the memorandum states that it should be the responsibility of the JHADC to ensure that public services are accessible and efficient. To that end, the proposal recommends setting up an administrative office in Khliehriat to handle public dealings and documentation, along with the establishment of a judicial bench comprising at least one judge or additional judge and a First Class Magistrate.

Importantly, the memorandum notes that the council can make these offices operational without the need for new recruitment. By reallocating existing personnel within the JHADC’s administrative and judicial departments, the initiative can be implemented with minimal additional cost, primarily limited to maintenance and stationery expenses.