Meghalaya Times

Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 14: Meghalaya Speaker, AT Mondal on Thursday nominated four legislators to the panel of Chairman, who will preside over the House in his absence during the Budget Session.
Mondal nominated Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Martin M Danggo, Metbah Lyngdoh and Dr Celestine Lyngdoh to the panel of Chairman on the first day of the Budget Session of newly constituted 9th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Staff reporter
Shillong, March 13: Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the new Pope of the world on Wednesday night. He will be called ‘Pope Francis I’.
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney announced to the world that cardinals gathered inside have elected a new Pope to head the Catholic Church. The billowing white smoke began spilling out of the chimney at approximately 11:36 pm India Standard Time (IST) which is approximately 7:06 p.m. local time at Vatican City.

"Good evening.
As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome, and it seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen who is from far away. Here I am.

New Delhi, March 13 (PTI): Sorting out differences, a Group of Ministers (GoM) on Wednesday night recommended lowering of age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years and suggested stern punishment for offences like stalking.
Working speedily, the GoM completed its task in the second meeting, paving the way for consideration of the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill by the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 13: In a shocking incident, the convoy of Parliamentary Secretary Rophul S Marak, the sitting legislator from Rongara Siju, was attacked by dacoits on Wednesday at Rongmil in East Garo Hills.
According to sources, while no – one reportedly sustained injuries, it is suspected that one of the dacoits was hit by a bullet.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 13: The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) kick started on Wednesday a day after the commencement of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificates (HSSLC) in the abode of clouds.

Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 13: Debating on the issues of country human rights situation that requires the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council’s attention at Geneva, Switzerland, Meghalaya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dino D.G. Dympep said, “India has an inspiring flaunt of laws and scheme aimed in realizing the economic, social and cultural rights for the majority of the population. Although India has achieved a sustained ‘growth’ rate, the promise of ‘inclusion’, it continues to violate the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of the Constitution.”

Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 13: In order to facilitate smooth movement of traffic during examination hours and ensure that no student is stranded in any traffic jam and delayed to respective examination center, the Shillong Traffic Police (STP) has made elaborate arrangements to tackle any such situation.

From Left:Rowell Lyngdoh, Dr Roytre C. Laloo, H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Deborah C. Marak, A.L. Hek, Zenith Sangma, Roshan Warjri, Clement Marak, M. Ampareen Lyngdoh and Sniawbhalang Dhar.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 12: Eleven members including three of the four women legislators were formally inducted in the Dr Mukul Sangma Cabinet with the Meghalaya Governor administering Oath of Office and Secrecy to them at the spacious lawn of the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday.
The swearing in ceremony of the eleven ministers mark the end of the process of government formation by the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II coalition government.

Staff Reporter

SHILLONG, March 12: Yes, it’s going to be “women-power” this time in matrilineal Meghalaya with the state all set to have for the first time in its history a lady legislator to be the captain of the most important department in term of all round security matters  - the Home ministry of the State.

Council of Ministers and their portfolios
1.Rowell Lyngdoh - Water Resources, Soil and Water Conservation, Home (Passport),  Law, Election, Administrative Reforms
2. Dr Roytre C. Laloo  - Public Health Engineering, School Education and Literacy, Higher and Technical Education, Revenue and Disaster Management, Re-organization

Most ministers lose their old portfolios

Staff Reporter

SHILLONG, March 12: With the formation of MUA – II complete with the swearing – in of the 11 Ministers on Tuesday, the port folio allocation has surprised quite a many.
While all the Congress legislators in the last Cabinet have managed to retain their seat, but their port folios have been shuffled extensively. Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has done some serious thinking in allotting port folios where he has tried to be fair to every Minister, even making some surprise moves.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 12: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to 18 Parliamentary Secretaries.
The swearing – in ceremony was held at the conference hall of the main secretariat in the presence of Dr Sangma’s deputies, Rowel Lyngdoh and Dr RC Laloo besides other Cabinet Ministers who had sworn-in earlier in the day.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 12: The Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II government had its first Cabinet sitting here on Tuesday and approved the draft Governor’s Address besides names of the Meghalaya Day Award awardees.
“We have approved the proposed draft of the Governor’s address to be addressed by his Excellency on the first day of Budget Session scheduled from March 14,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Further the cabinet has also approved the names of the awardees of the Meghalaya Day Award recommended by the committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 12: Reacting to the former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Chairman turned legislator Julius Dorphang’s statement that the outfit was fighting against the system but was never against the Constitution of India, the outfit on Tuesday said “Dorphang’s statement is baseless and vague”.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 08: Former Power Minister, Abu Taher Mondal will be sworn in as Speaker of the 9th Meghalaya Assembly on Monday next.
Congress legislator from Phulbari, Mondal has emerged as unchallenged for the coveted post after the HSPDP Nongkrem legislator, Ardent Basaiawmoit’s nomination paper was rejected on Friday.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 08: Citing money-power as the main factor for her defeat in the just concluded Meghalaya Assembly elections, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate from Mawthadraishan, Dr Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait on Friday said there is a need to change the mind-set of the electorate by making them aware of the ill-effects of money.
“Awareness is one important factor which can curb the use of monetary power during elections,” she asserted.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 08: Project Director of Mihmyntdu Community Social Welfare Association (MCSWA) Dr J.N. Shullai speaking as the main speaker during the celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) at H.K. Singh School, Jowai stressed that women are yet to make use to laws ensuring protection to them.
“We have laws to protect right of the women in place but women are yet to make the best used of the laws,” she said.

Staff Reporter
Shillong, March 08: In a coordinated effort to root out militancy, military intelligence along with Guwahati City police and CRPF on the Thursday evening apprehended five hardcore NDFB – AT (Anti Talk) militants from Dispur.
Sources informed that the based on the lead provided by the military intelligence regarding movement of NDFB – AT cadres in Guwahati on March 7, a joint team of 128 Bn CRPF and Guwahati City police launched an Operation under SP (Ops), Guwahati city, Ranjan Buyan.

Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, March 08: The two-day tribunal meeting on unlawful activities (prevention) to discuss the issues pertaining to the banned HNLC concluded on Friday at Hotel Pinewood, where the Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners from all the districts of the Khasi-Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills district were examined at the tribunal by the cabinet.
Sources informed that the team from the centre (New Delhi) was led by Justice Sudershan Kumar Misra from the Delhi High Court and presided the meeting.