SHILLONG, Dec 9: The Meghalaya government has approved key amendments to the Meghalaya Judicial Service Rules 2006 and the Meghalaya Higher Judicial Service Rules 2015, aimed at improving the examination process, syllabus, and recruitment mechanisms for the state’s judicial services.

Announcing the decision following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the changes were made based on recommendations received from the judiciary.

“These have been done as per the recommendations that have come from the judiciary and these are mostly to do with the conduct of examinations and what kind of exams or what kind of syllabus and how the direct recruitments will take place, the percentage of that and also to look at the different procedures of the recruitment,” Sangma said.

A key amendment includes making knowledge of local languages—Khasi or Garo—mandatory for judicial candidates.

“Suggestions were given, for example, that knowledge of the local language of Khasi or Garo will also be mandatory, and we have accepted that recommendation also,” the Chief Minister stated.

The amendments are expected to strengthen the judicial hiring system and ensure candidates are well-equipped to serve effectively in Meghalaya’s courts.

“Therefore, all those kinds of recommendations were made and we have approved and accepted those recommendations,” Sangma said.