Headman and secretary of Mawsynram have been asked to be present in the Meghalaya High Court tomorrow in connection with the denial of religious rites at Mawjymbuin cave.
The High Court gave the order today on a writ petition filed by Yatra, a registered society, challenging the refusal by Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram to allow for conducting the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the cave.
The court also directed East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Rosetta M. Kurbah and Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtynger to be present at tomorrow’s hearing which will be held at 2 pm.
“Issue notice to the respondents No. 6, 7, & 8. In the considered view of this court, as the matter is sensitive and deserves urgent consideration and in order to resolve the matter, the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District is directed to depute a responsible Officer to inform the said respondents No. 6, 7, & 8 to be present in court tomorrow, along with the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, in person at 2 pm in the afternoon,” Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew said in his order.
During today’s hearing, S Jindal, lawyer for Yatra, told the High Court that the annual pilgrimage (yatra) to Mawjymbuin cave has been a continuing affair and from 2011 onwards, with the formation of the society it was made more structured and organised.
Jindal also pointed out the permissions earlier granted from 2011 onwards issued by the district administration till 2023 and stated that the Dorbar Shnong on all these occasions has also issued the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) and permission, and that whatsoever conditions that have been prescribed in the NOC have been strictly followed.
He further told the court that this year the first permission had been obtained on June 27 from the district administration with the condition that the organisers should obtain an NOC from the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram.
According to Jindal, inspite of reaching out to the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram, there was no response and that Yatra only came to know about the rejection of the NOC through the media.
He further told the High Court that there is no attempt whatsoever to establish any place of worship as has been reported and that throughout the years, the only act that has been done is to sprinkle water on the lingam (stone) and that there is no intention to hurt the sentiments or create any disturbances whatsoever in the place.
Jindal also requested the court to issue notice at this stage to the district administration and the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram and that appropriate orders be passed thereafter.
Additional Advocate General T Yangi B accepted the notice on behalf of five government officials including the DC and SP of East Khasi Hills. She also requested the court to allow her one day’s time to obtain specific instructions from them.
The court also today directed for issuing of notice to three private respondents who included the headman and secretary of Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram.
Last week, the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram banned Hindu devotees from offering prayers at the Mawjymbuin cave, which is famous for the stone structure that naturally forms into what the Hindu faithful believe to be a “Shivling”.
The Dorbar Shnong also said that no religious rituals would be allowed at the site since it is a tourist spot.
Irked by the decision of the Dorbar Shnong, a Hindu group from Assam by the name of Kutumba Suraksha Parishad (KSP) yesterday threatened to carry out a road blockade against Meghalaya.
Addressing a press conference at Guwahati Press Club, KSP president, Satya Ranjan Borah asked the Meghalaya government to clarify its stand on the matter.
“We need the answer from the Meghalaya state authority. Else, the Meghalaya government will face sincere protest here in Assam; may be situations like blockage of the roads to Meghalaya via Jorabat (Guwahati); Paikan (Goalpara) and all other roads,” Borah said.
