HIGH COURT
The overall jurisdiction of the Guwahati High Court extends over Meghalaya also. The principal seat of the High Court is at Guwahati and at present a Circuit Bench has been functioning at Shillong since 1974.

COURT OF THE DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AT SHILLONG
In the ‘normal areas’ of Shillong the court of the District Judge, Munsiff and others try civil cases arising therefrom. The courts come under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and other laws defining their pecuniary, etc. jurisdiction.

In criminal matters, courts of the Session Judge, the Chief Judicial Magistrate and other Judicial Magistrate are set up under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The jurisdiction of these courts extends over the entire municipal areas, including the ‘normal areas’ of Shillong.

At present the offices of the District Judge and the Session Judge, Shillong are held by the same Officer. The Officer has also been empowered as Additional Deputy Commissioner to try civil and criminal cases in the rest of East Khasi Hills District under the Rules of Administration of Justice.

COURTS OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

In the rest of Shillong and in each of the Districts, Judicial powers are exercised by the Deputy Commissioner and his Assistants under the Rules of Administration of Justice, 1937. In the Khasi Syiemship areas, judicial powers are exercised by those courts under the Khasi Syiemship (Administration of Justice) Order, 1950. In Criminal matters, the powers of the Deputy Commissioner are the same as those of a Session Judge.

In the tribal areas of Meghalaya, District Council Courts and other subordinate courts owe their origin to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The hierarchy of these courts begins from the village courts presided over by Lyngdohs, Dolois or Headmen right up to the District Council Court at the apex which is presided by an officer designated as a Judge. The District Council have jurisdiction to try only cases where all or both the parties are tribals resident in the area.