The Meghalaya cabinet on Friday okayed the appointment of Amit Kumar, senior advocate of Supreme Court as the new advocate general of the state.
Law minister James K. Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting here that the government has selected Kumar strictly on merit.
Kumar is the member of the Meghalaya High Court bar council. Kumar will replace B.P. Todi, who has quit as advocate general recently.
James who is also the home minister said that the cabinet has accorded approval to amend section 29 of the Meghalaya police act, 2010 to facilitate 10 per cent reservation of total vacancies for women in the recruitment of sub-inspector and constable under unarmed branch of the state police.
According to the home minister, keeping in mind the rise in crimes against women and children which is a matter of concern, this will ensure that there are more women in the state police force.
Among others, the cabinet also approved a proposal of the education department relating to a pension scheme for both teaching and non-teaching staff of deficit colleges in the state.
Parliamentary affairs minister Prestone Tynsong said that under the scheme, the state government will shell out Rs 40 lakh annually.
The state government will contribute 8 per cent and the contribution from the staff towards the contributory provident fund (CPF) is 4 per cent.
Tynsong said that the contribution will become effective from the day when the state government issued a notification, and the staff would enjoy the CPF when they retired from service.
Moreover, Tynsong said that the cabinet also approved the appointment of three posts of teachers – one for computer science and engineering, and two posts under civil engineering at Shillong polytechnic under section 3(f) of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission.
He also said that approval was also accorded to the proposal of the education department to constitute the Meghalaya state higher education council to promote academic excellence in the state.
While minister for education is the chairman of the council, vice-chancellor of North Eastern Hill University is the vice-chairman and other officials of the state government are its members.
The cabinet also approved a proposal of the University of science and technology, Meghalaya to change its name to Maharashtra Institute of Technology University, Meghalaya.