Shillong, Sep 24:The Meghalaya High Court has directed removal of agitating employees from the entrance of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to not disrupt functioning of the office.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice H.S. Thangkhiew and Justice B. Bhattacharjee in its interim order today said the West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police to take steps to request the agitating employees not to cause any form of obstruction to the persons who are willing to work.
“It is expected that the respondent No.5, shall comply with this request to be made by the Superintendent of Police and not to disrupt the work of the GHADC, failing which this Court would be compelled in the public interest and interest of justice to pass further orders,” the court said.
The court also directed the SP to alert the president of the Non-Gazetted Employees Association Brithen M Sangma about the pendency of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
A PIL has been filed by Tokyo R. Marak urging the court to direct the GHADC to resolve the pending situation, which has led to the indefinite strike by the non-gazetted staff of the Council, which has led to the total breakdown of the functioning of the district council.
Earlier, K.C. Gautam, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the indefinite strike has been continuing from July 29, 2025 till date and the district council being an important functionary cloaked with executive, legislative and judicial functions has been left totally paralysed which has affected the public.
Advocate General Amit Kumar told the court about the bailout package offered by the State government to pay the agitating non-gazetted staff regular monthly salary with effect from November, 2025, including arrears of pay for the last five months and an offer made by the GHADC to pay 12 months pending salaries. He said that the NGEA is reluctant and adamant not to accept the offers.
