The Meghalaya High Court has decided to issue notice to the Syiem of Hima Sohra, Freeman Sing Syiem to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be drawn up against him for alleged violation of the order passed by the court on December 16, 2021 in connection with non-issuing of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for renewal of trading license to 25 non-tribal traders of Majai area.
“Issue notice to the respondent (Freeman Sing Syiem) to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be drawn up for alleged violation of the order dated 16-12-2021 passed by this court in connection with these matters. Notice is made returnable in three weeks,” Justice Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew said in the order passed on May 6. The case will be heard on May 30.
It may be mentioned that on December 16, 2021, Justice Thangkhiew had directed the Syiem of Sohra to complete the process of issuance of NOCs to all the eligible applicants within three weeks from the date of receipt of the order.
The court also directed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to process the renewal of trading license to the 25 non-tribal traders within four weeks after the NOCs has been obtained by them.
The High Court had also stated that till such process is completed by the Syiem of Sohra and KHADC, the 25 non-tribal traders “shall not be restrained in any manner from plying their trade due to non-renewal of their trade license”.
The High Court passed the order on a batch of writ petitions file by Adhir Das, Nripesh Dey, Biplob Dey, Probito Das, Hirok Roy, Pronob Sarkar, Samar Sarkar, Debashish Dey, Bipul Das, Chanchal Debnath, Sandeep Dey, Niklesh Malakar, Moloy Das, Ashish Debnath, Rama Kanta Chanda, Himadri Roy, Sudhangshu Das, Amio Das, Dilip Ranjan Dey, Sajib Debnath, Bakul Das, Nripesh Dey, Hiralal Deb, Bishnu Paul and Pradeep Sinha.
The petitioners are all traders who are the permanent residents of Majai area under Sohra Syiemship and are engaged in the trade of limestone, non-Basmati rice, fruits etc.
Due to a law and order situation that had occurred on February 28, 2020 in Ichamati which had resulted in the unfortunate loss of life of a local person, the Syiem of Sohra has not issued the requisite NOCs to enable the KHADC to process and renew the trading licenses of the 25 writ petitioners.
