HILLONG: The Special Court headed by First Class Judicial Magistrate R Rymbai will hold the second sitting on Monday to try the damage suit of over Rs 31 crore against the pressure groups, who sponsored a four-month-long agitation demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State.
The Government filed the damage suit due to the loss of property, both private and public, following several cases of arson during the agitations of the pressure groups.
The Government wants to realize over Rs 31 crore from as many as 14 pressure groups based on the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and the Supreme Court order banning bandhs and other form of agitation.
Even as unconditional talks with the pro-ILP pressure groups on January 15 resulted in suspension of agitations, the stand of the Government is that the hearing of the Court should go on.
The Special Court had its first sitting on December 3 last, but except for two leaders of the CSWO – Agnes Kharshiing and Evangeline Thabah – leaders of other pressure groups failed to turn up.
During the hearing, the CSWO leaders had sought more time to reply to the charges.
It was on November 7 last that the Special Court had issued notices to the pressure groups to appear for the first hearing December 3.
An official source on Sunday said that leaders of all the pressure groups have been asked to appear before the Special Court on Monday.
According to the source, in case the leaders of the pressure groups, who had received notices from the Court, fail to appear before the Court, the matter will be heard ex parte.
However, those who appear before the Court will have to reply to the charges.