Chief justice, Manipur High Court Siddharth Mridul on Wednesday inaugurated a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court building at Mao, marking a significant milestone in the judicial landscape of the region.
He expressed immense pride in the completion of the new court building, which fulfills a long-held aspiration of the region.
The inauguration ceremony celebrated the culmination of years of effort to bring a well equipped, functional, and permanent judicial facility to Mao, previously underserved in terms of access to justice.
“Today, we stand before a magnificent court building—a symbol of resilience, commitment, and unwavering faith in the rule of law. It represents not just the physical structure but the hopes and dreams of the people of this region for access to fair, transparent, and efficient justice,” Chief Justice Mridul said.
Justice Mridul also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of Chipfokho Athia, who graciously donated the land for the project. In recognition of her generosity, her son has been appointed as the chowkidar of the court.
Expressing his appreciation for all those involved in the project, including the law and legislative affairs department, the Engineering Cell, and contractor M/S G Thaninjao R Naga and Sons, the CJ Mridul noted that the true measure of success for the court building would be the positive impact it has on the lives of the people it serves.
“The success of this court will not be measured by the strength of its walls, but by the impact it has on the lives of those who seek justice here. Let this building be a beacon of hope, fairness, and truth for generations to come,” the Chief Justice said.
As part of the inauguration, Chief Justice Mridul also called on the legal community in the region—comprising both the Bar and Bench—to unite in the spirit of service, upholding the dignity of the institution and ensuring that justice is delivered impartially and promptly.
The new JMFC Court Building is expected to strengthen the judiciary’s presence in the region, reducing the need for citizens to travel long distances to access legal remedies and providing a modern, comfortable space for legal proceedings, he said.
The new JMFC Court Building, completed in just over a year since the project’s commencement on October 12, 2023, was built at a cost of Rs 4.53 crore.
The project was funded through both Central and state contributions, with the Central share amounting to Rs 4.07 crore and the state share Rs 45.32 lakh. The facility includes state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as video conferencing technology to facilitate hybrid hearings, ensuring that justice remains accessible regardless of geographic barriers.
The project also includes essential infrastructure like an underground sump, internal roads, and proper security features. Additionally, two residential quarters for judicial staff have been built, with provisions to make the building disabled-friendly in the near future.
The event was attended by law and legislative minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh (attending through VC), judges of the High Court of Manipur, justice A Bimol Singh; justice A Guneshwar Sharma; justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui; Losii Dikho, Mao assembly constituency MLA, Nungshitombi Athokpam Commissioner (Law), registrar general, High Court Ojesh Mutum and other esteemed members of the judiciary, government officials and citizens.
