SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today announced several key decisions taken by the State Cabinet, focusing on resolving long-standing employment issues, streamlining bureaucracy, and strengthening the state’s judicial and healthcare systems.
Relief for 221 Bonded Healthcare Workers
CM Sangma announced a significant decision to confirm and recognize the appointments of 221 bonded nurses and paramedic staff who were appointed between 2008 and 2012.
The Chief Minister provided detailed context for this decision, referencing the government’s previous blanket ruling:
”Last time we had made the decision that all appointments made post-2007, which were not in the procedures and adhoc in nature… will be then advertised and recruitment will take place for that.”
The CM explained the legal distinction that led to the exemption for the bonded nurses — the appointments of the bonded nurses were different from pure adhoc appointments. Their selection involved a process—even if not the standard MPSC or Recruitment Board one—and was formalized by a legal bond signed after their education.
The Cabinet decided to recognize the procedure and legal binding document of the bond (which was abolished in 2013) and therefore confirmed their appointments. Recruitment for these 221 posts will not be done.
New Rules for Health Governance
The Cabinet approved two crucial rules to formalize and regulate sections of the state’s health sector.
Meghalaya Pharmacist Service Rules: These rules were framed and approved by the Cabinet, establishing a dedicated service structure for the state’s pharmacists, which was previously lacking.
Meghalaya Mental Healthcare Rules: The Cabinet adopted these rules to establish a mechanism to mandate and regulate all institutions dealing with healthcare, rehabilitation, and other mental health care activities in the state.
Streamlining Land Lease Renewals
To make governance easier and smoother, the Cabinet introduced a significant procedural simplification regarding the regularization of excess area on government lease lands around Shillong.
The CM said, periodic renewals of these leases involved a long “NTBS” process because documentation had to come all the way up to the government for a decision, involving many officials and delays.
He said, the government has simplified the procedure and delegated the power to the Deputy Commissioner (DC). DCs can now take decisions and conduct renewals at a much faster pace without the need for files to move up to the Government level.
Judicial Service Rule Amendments
The final key decision was the approval of the proposed amendments to the Meghalaya Judicial Service Rules, 2006, and the Meghalaya Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2015.
The amendments were made based on recommendations that came from the Judiciary itself. The changes primarily involve the conduct of examinations, syllabus, recruitment procedures, and the percentage of selection.
A key recommendation accepted by the Cabinet is the maintenance of the requirement for knowledge of the local languages, Khasi and Garo, in the written examinations for judicial posts.
