Shillong, Oct 27: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and Chief Justice, High Court, Meghalaya, Justice Revati Mohite Dere, today, jointly, laid the foundation stone for the construction of the permanent campus of the National Law University, Meghalaya and the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy. Also present during the occasion were Lahkmen Rymbui, Minister, Law etc, Justice H S Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court, Meghalaya, Justice, W Diengdoh, Judge, High Court, Meghalaya, Justice B Bhattacharjee, Judge, High Court, Meghalaya, Justice, Sanjib Banerjee, Former Chief Justice, High Court, Meghalaya, Prof Dr Jyoti Jajodia Mozika, VC, NLU, Meghalaya and Kerpa Lyngdoh Nongbri, Director, MSJA.
Speaking during the occasion, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that the foundation stones mark the move of the National Law University of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy from temporary premises to permanent campuses at Mawpdang–Mawkhanu, New Shillong Township. “The State Government handed over 65 acres for the two institutions on 30 October 2023 and the permanent campuses will provide dedicated space for legal education, research, judicial training, residential learning, libraries, digital facilities and professional interaction,” he said adding that the two institutions serve different stages of the same pathway. “The University prepares future legal professionals and the Academy provides continuing education to serving judicial officers,” he added.
Outlining the long-term vision to bring back the glory of the state as the educational hub and transform the state into an educational and economic hub through significant investments and service-oriented industries Meghalaya the Chief Minister said that Meghalaya hosts a number of national institutions and said, “NLU Meghalaya adds law to this set of institutions in technology, management, design and medicine, and widens the choices available to students in the State.”
On the role of the NLU and the MSJA the Chief Minister sad that the University must convert access into academic quality, research, professional competence and meaningful progression for its students. “Its distinct role should include research on customary and tribal laws and practices, legal aid clinics with the State Legal Services Authority, moot courts, and engagement with courts, practitioners and communities,” he said while the Academy must provide systematic and continuing education for judicial officers, with emphasis on integrity, legal reasoning, new criminal laws, court management and technology. “The two institutions should retain separate mandates and collaborate through lectures, conferences, research, publications and professional interaction and together, the permanent campuses should link legal education, research, judicial training and justice delivery in the State,” he added.
Chief Justice, High Court, Meghalaya, Justice, Revati Mohite Dere, in her address, stated that the event signifies a move from temporary facilities to a permanent campus that integrates legal education and judicial training. She highlighted how the university and the academy serve complementary roles in justice delivery and said, “The university will prepare future legal professionals while the academy focuses on strengthening existing judicial skills and knowledge,” adding that placing both institutions on one campus offers an intellectual advantage by bridging legal theory with judicial practice.
The Chief Justice further said that the greatness of these two institutions depends on the character of the graduates and the integrity of the legal professionals they produce and encouraged the students to use their education to protect rights, protect the vulnerable and uphold democratic institutions emphasizing that professional success must be coupled with integrity, humility, compassion and courage. She further added that these campuses will serve as enduring symbols of Meghalaya’s commitment to justice and education.
