Violation of building laws: HC takes up PIL
SHILLONG: The full bench of Meghalaya High Court has issued notices to 12 new parties including sitting legislator Lamboklang Mylliemngap and his father and prominent businessman Modrick Nongkynrih for violation of building norms fixed by Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
The court issued these notices while hearing a PIL filed by JM Thangkhiew, a lawyer by profession, against construction of high-rise buildings in the capital city violating building laws.
It may be mentioned that earlier the court had sought action against another set of city-based 12 owners of high-rise buildings.
In the fresh order issued on Friday, the Court asked the 12 new imlpeaded parties to reply to the notices within two weeks.
The 12 impleaded parties are Sanjib Das, resident of GS Road, Police Bazar,Manchin Fincon Pvt Ltd, resident of Jail Road, Kenneth M Lyngdoh, resident of Bivar Road, Sanjay Jhunjhunwalla of Bivar Road, Modrick Nongkynrih of Bishop Cotton Road, BD Marbaniang of Demseniong, Lamboklang Mylliemngap of Motinagar, Dr TA Sohklet of Lummawrie, Allenwood Swer of Fire Brigade, Secretary of Islamia Secondary School, P Dkhar of Laban and Nicolas Wallang of Boyce Road.
Earlier, the committee, constituted by the High Court of Meghalaya to examine cases of violation of the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2011, in under-construction buildings, had listed 12 such buildings whose owners are Narayan Prasad Jhunjhunwala at Police Bazaar, Nilesh Tibrewalla at Thana Road, Satyabrato Baidya at Jail Road, Ajit Das Gupta at Jail Road, Bidur Das at Jail Road, Uday N. Shukla at Oakland Road, Rajkumari Sinha at Bivar Road, Mentok Ri-Project Pvt. Ltd at Bivar Road, Maruf Elahi at Bivar Road, Beroline Khongshei at Laban, Mohendro Rapsang at Keating Road and Saini Pala at Motinagar.
‘Threat to students’ life’
Meanwhile, referring to Islamia Secondary School, which is among 12 newly impleaded parties, the petitioner Thangkhiew in his submission before the High Court said that students were made to suffer in the ground floor of Islamia Secondary School while the top floor, which is under construction, would be rented out to run business establishments.
According to the petitioner, construction is going on in the property of Islamia Secondary School.
There was no proper ventilation or egress in the school premises, the petitioner said adding that this has put students’ life in danger in the event of any natural catastrophe.