HPC files SLP against High Court orders

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 19, 2019

SHILLONG: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has filed a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court against the orders passed by the Meghalaya High Court, which directed the residents at Them Iew Mawlong to furnish requisite information to the state government. 

HPC secretary Gurjit Singh informed that the Supreme Court has admitted the SLP today and notice was accordingly issued to the government of Meghalaya which is returnable in three weeks. 

He said the SLP was filed against the two orders passed by the Meghalaya High Court on June 28 and July 8 respectively.

The decision was also taken after the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) had recently served fresh notices to all residents of the Sweeper’s Colony directing them to furnish documents before the board’s office within a month’s time. The exercise was taken up based on the Court’s order on June 28. 

While hearing a review petition filed by the state government on the issue, the division bench in its order on June 28, had said, “However, it is directed that the occupants/residents of the concerned area shall cooperate in furnishing the requisite information to the State.” 

Subsequent to this, the HPC filed an application under section 151 of the code of civil procedure 1908 seeking modification of the June 28-order, which was dismissed by the High Court on July 8.

“After hearing learned counsel for the applicant and perusing the application, I do not find any ground or justification in entertaining the same as no ambiguity is pointed out. Accordingly, this application is dismissed,” the Court had said in its order. 

It may be mentioned here that the Board in its earlier notice issued on May 31, to over 300 households of the Sweeper’s Colony had set July 3 as the last date for submission of documents. However, not a single resident had complied with the notice. 

The exercise to issue fresh notices was also done based on the direction of the High Level Committee (HLC) constituted by the state government to find a feasible solution for the relocation of the Sweeper’s Colony from Them Iew Mawlong, following the last year’s violent protest. 

As per the inventory report submitted to the HLC, a total of 184 employees and their families have been identified as legal settlers. These include families of 128 employees of the SMB and 56 others who are working in the different government departments.