SHILLONG, May 18: Meghalaya continues to fall short in gender representation within its police force, according to the latest India Justice Report 2025. At the current recruitment rate, the state is projected to take an astonishing 86 years to achieve a 33% representation of women in the police. This disparity contrasts sharply with states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, which could reach that milestone in just three years if their current pace continues. Other states, including Jharkhand, Tripura, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, might take up to 200 years, while Assam, a neighboring state, is estimated to take around 120 years.
The report also highlights that Meghalaya ranks fifth among seven small states concerning overall justice delivery performance, scoring only 4.02 out of 10 on the composite index. This index evaluates states based on four pillars: police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid. Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh lead this category, while Meghalaya is grouped with Mizoram and Goa at the bottom.
In specific rankings, Meghalaya occupies fifth place in police, fourth in prisons, third in judiciary, and fifth in legal aid. The police sector particularly illustrates the deep-rooted gender imbalance. As of 2023, women constituted merely 5.8% of the state police force. Each police station averaged only 1.3 women sub-inspectors and 7.7 women constables, far below the Ministry of Home Affairs’ recommendation of at least three sub-inspectors and ten constables per station. The prison sector shows a slightly better scenario, with women making up 16.1% of the staff. All prisons in the state have operational legal aid clinics, positioning Meghalaya among the select few states that meet this requirement.
The judiciary presents a mixed review. While subordinate courts are gradually improving in clearing backlogged cases, 36.7% were still pending for over five years as of January 2025, and more than 51% of cases had been outstanding for over three years, ranking among the worst in the country. On a positive note, the High Court of Meghalaya stands out nationally, boasting over 91% of its cases under five years old and only 0.7% lingering for more than 20 years.
Gender disparities are evident across the entire justice system, with the state having no women judges in its high court and 44.4% in its subordinate courts. This report underscores the urgent need for Meghalaya to initiate structural reforms aimed at making gender diversity in the justice system more than a mere policy goal. The India Justice Report is a unique, data-driven, periodic national ranking that assesses the capacity of states to deliver justice, relying solely on official government statistics. It has been produced with the collaboration of various organizations, including DAKSH and the Tata Trusts.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/05/19/mlaya-police-will-take-86-yrs-to-reduce-gender-gap-report/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2025-05-19 04:11:00
