Contempt of court case: Adelbert directed to be present on Aug 4
SHILLONG: The Division Bench of High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each to five members of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and ordered their presence besides that of former KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum in the court on August 4 in a contempt of court case related to the earlier order of the court on headmen issue.
The Central Executive Committee of HYC, general secretary Robert June Kharjahrin, organizing secretary Nickson Dohling, vice president Donboklang Kharlyngdoh, adviser Anthony Kharbuli, and assistant organizing secretary Issac Basawiamoit have been asked to be present in the next hearing.
The case relates to contempt of court by Nongrum after he criticized the December 14, 2014 order of Justice SR Sen stripping the powers and functions of headmen.
Since there was shouting of slogans outside the court premises during the hearing of the contemptuous remarks by the former CEM of KHADC on January 27, 2015, the High Court had ordered for a CBI inquiry
Earlier, the principal contemnor Adelbert Nongrum had appealed before the Supreme Court against the criminal contempt case taken up by the High Court , but the apex court, apart from not interfering with the order of the High Court, rather required the Division Bench of the High Court to proceed with the matter expeditiously, without being influenced by the observations made in the January 27, 2015 order that had been essentially of initiation of the proceedings.
Later, based on the order of the High Court, the CBI had submitted the report on June 30, 2015 to the Court naming the five HYC members behind the mayhem outside the court premises.
The order of the court was to conduct a thorough inquiry ( and find out who were responsible for misleading the people pertaining to the judgment of the court on the headmen and “instigating law and order problem, and trying to divide the people on communal line, shouting slogan outside the court premises and bringing around hundreds of people to create fear psychosis and disturb the court proceedings for which the District Administration had to clamp Section-144 CrPC to maintain law and order in and around the High Court campus”
The High Court took up the pending contempt of court case on Tuesday after the five HYC members and former KHADC CEM failed to appear before the Court in the subsequent hearings though notices were issued to them.
Moreover, the High Court was also unhappy over the delay in filing affidavits by K Paul, the counsel for the five HYC members even after giving sufficient time.
“In the totality of circumstances, we are inclined to grant further time to the contemnors as another chance for filing affidavits-in-reply in the interest of justice but only after imposing costs. Accordingly, the matter is adjourned while imposing costs in the sum of Rs.5,000 on each of the five persons against whom notices were ordered to be issued on 29.10.2015”, the order said .
While the money will have to be deposited with the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, they have to submit the affidavit-in-reply within two weeks from July 19.
The Court also asked the principal contemnor former CEM Nongrum, who has been enlarged on bail and is represented by H.S. Thangkhiew, senior counsel, as also the five HYC members , represented by K Paul, to remain present in the court on the next date.
The court further wanted the print and electronic media to be cautious about the statements of Nongrum and others criticizing the court about the order related to the headmen
The restraint order will also refer to Nongrum and other five HYC members.