High Court levies Rs 10,000 penalty on Union Govt official
SHILLONG: The State Government on Wednesday sought eight weeks’ time to get the opinion of an expert group to be formed by the government on the demand of Niam Khasi-Niam Tre for recognition as minority group.
The State government had submitted the minutes of the January 20 meeting of the Task Force headed by Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare department, T. Dkhar, to the High Court making it clear that there was no discrimination on the part of the State government against any community residing in the State.
The High Court during the hearing allowed exemption to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, from appearing in the Court, but imposed a fine of Rs.10,000 to be deposited in the registry since a bail bond was executed against him following the last order of the High Court.
The High Court had on January 13 issued a bailable warrant against the Union Secretary, Amarendra Sinha, after he failed to appear in court in the case related to minority tribes in the State being deprived of fundamental and human rights.
It was on December 12 that the High Court had directed the Secretary of Minority Affairs to be present in the Court.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, was present in the Court.