The Meghalaya High Court is unhappy as no progress has been made to find out places for cremation of the dead belonging to the indigenous faith.
While hearing a PIL on the matter today, the division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasana Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh also discharged its Amicus Curiae Dr. Nitesh Mozika and replaced him with advocate N. Syngkon, who will collaborate with the district magistrate who has been directed to immediately comply with the October 25, 2024 court order within four weeks.
In its earlier order, the High Court had directed the district magistrate to make a fact finding exercise through the BDO level and apprise the Amicus Curiae of any point or place in a particular district where a crematorium or a ground for cremation of the death is not available within 10 kilometres. It also directed the district magistrates through the junior officers to hold meetings with members of the Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu communities so as to persuade them to accept one crematorium or one place for cremation of the dead for all the communities.
“There is no report in Court with regard to progress in terms of our earlier order. We are not at all pleased with this state of affairs,” the division bench said.
While the government had proposed to set up new electric hybrid crematoria in New Shillong, Tura, Jowai and Nongpoh and sanctioned or completed projects at Syllei-Iawkein, Nongstoin, Khlieh Tyrshi village, Jowai, West Jaintia Hills and Jhalupara in Shillong, the court noted that none was functional.
The PIL will come up for hearing on April 8, 2025.
