Only one pro-ILP pressure group attends 2nd hearing
SHILLONG: A special court set up to try cases against 14 groups demanding introduction of the inner line permit (ILP) in the state has directed the pressure groups to submit their responses to the show-cause notice in the next hearing to be held March 10.
The special court headed by First Class Judicial Magistrate R Rymbai issued this directive during its second hearing held on Monday.
Special Assistant Public Prosecutor S. Kumar said that out of 14 pressure groups, only three — All India Garo Union represented by WMS Sangma, Khasi Women Welfare and Development Association represented by its General Secretary, H Kharbani and Civil Society Women’s Organsiation of Agnes Kharshiing – have received the show-cause notice.
Out of the three, only CSWO leaders Kharshiing and Evangeline Thabah appeared before the court on Monday
Eleven notices which wereserved to other pressure groups returned undelivered.
“We will resend notices in the correct addresses to be delivered to the leaders of the remaining 11 groups,” Kumar said.
Speaking to reporters, CSWO counsel Poonam Yadav said, “We have sought for more time from the court and we will submit our response to the show-cause in the next hearing.”
The court also heard the matter and issued an order ex-parte against those leaders of pressure groups who had received notices but failed to appear before it.
The special Court setup by the State Government is trying the damage suit of over Rs 31 crore against the pressure groups, who sponsored a four-month-long agitation demanding the implementation of 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.