The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to pay Rs 2 lakh to Ridalin Law within 15 days for causing unnecessary harassment and pecuniary loss to her.
The order was passed by Justice Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew today on a writ petition filed by Law, a resident of West Jaintia Hills.
Law, though being the highest bidder to operate a check gate at Mookyndur, her bid was rejected by the JHADC which instead alloted the check gate to one Rudolf G. Kyndiah.
Earlier, the High Court on the challenge moved by Law, had quashed the allotment to Kyndiah, and had further directed the JHADC to re-examine the requirements and norms for setting up the check gate before taking any further decision on the work order.
The JHADC thereafter on re-examination of the matter, issued an order dated October 26, 2022, allotting the check gate to Law on the condition that she makes arrangements for suitable land to set up the check gate, which she duly complied with.
However, the JHADC purportedly due to a legal notice issued by the earlier unsuccessful second highest bidder Rudolf G. Kyndiah, cancelled the order dated October 26, 2022.
Further, the JHADC then took a decision to run the check gate departmentally by leasing a plot of land at Khliehtyrshi, which was at some distance from Mookyndur, the original location of the check gate.
Law being aggrieved by the action of the JHADC, moved the High Court seeking appropriate directions.
“The present case in the facts and circumstances thereof, however, call for exemplary cost to be inflicted upon the respondent JHADC, for the arbitrariness shown in the entire decision making process. Accordingly, it is directed that the respondent JHADC through the Secretary of the Executive Committee pay a cost of Rs 2 lakh to the writ petitioner within a period of 15 days from the date of this order,” the High Court said in an order passed today while also disposing off the writ petition.
