JOWAI: The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) suspended seven dollois and removed three acting dollois for violating Council rules and instructions.
“The decision was taken in the Executive Committee meeting held on Thursday,” reliable sources informed on Friday.
The dollois had claimed that the JHADC was violating an apex court order by not allowing the chieftains to collect toll taxes at exit points. The Council alleged that the Dollois misused their power in the name of the Supreme Court order.
The ‘Dorbar Ki Daloi Ka Ri Jaintia’ has installed customary tax collection centres at every exit points — Dein Thare, Rattacherra and Nartiang-Khanduli, from where vehicles move to Assam, Dawki for vehicles going towards Bangladesh and Saphai for vehicles travelling to Assam via Karampani.
According to sources, the JHADC Executive Committee led by CEM Thombor Shiwat decided to terminate acting dollois of Jowai, Puramon Kynjing, of Shangpung Elaka, Mandame Dhar and the acting dolloi of Muskut elaka.
The seven suspended dollois included the Dolloi of Raliang, Chawas Lyngdoh- the Chairman of the Dorbar Ki Dolloi Ri Lum Jaintia, and its Secretary, the Dolloi Narpuh, Manbha Kyndoh.
Beside the two leaders of the Dollois, the JHADC also suspended Dolloi of Sutnga Erodit Sutnga, Dolloi of Nongjngi Corpius Daw, Dolloi of Shangpung Wandame Dhar, Dolloi of Nongbah Moon Garod, Dolloi of Nongtalang and Dolloi of Bataw Lakadong.
The bickering over toll tax reached to such an extent that the JHADC received a legal notice from the advocate of the Dorbar Ki Daloi Ka Ri Jaintia, Amit Kumar. The autonomous body had replied that it was the Dorbar Ki Daloi that was violating the court order.
The Supreme Court Order says, “Until further order, the person(s) occupying the post of Dolois of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council who are traditional chieftains may continue to function subject to various instructions framed by the Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Scheduled to the Constitution.”
The JHADC Establishment of Elaka and Village and Election, Appointment, Powers, Function and Jurisdiction of Dolois/Sirdar and Waheh Chnong Act, 2015, states in the Sanad Section 5 ‘you shall collect the tolls/tax of the elaka according to the custom, practice and usage approved and empowered by the district council.
Also, the JHADC has recently been equipped with the administration act and has to frame rules and regulations. But the council has not formulated any rule yet as the Village Administration Act was recently passed and has not approved or empowered any Doloi to collect tax or set up toll gates or tax collection centres.
“The Supreme Court in its order has clearly stated that the Doloi should continue to function as per Instructions framed by JHADC. However, it has not yet framed any instructions. Thereby, the Dolois have clearly violated the Supreme Court Order,” said a letter from the EC, JHADC, addressed to the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner.
The JHADC has also informed that if no proper action is taken by the district administration and the State, it will move the matter to the apex court.
Meanwhile, the JHADC summoned all the dollois and their statements were duly recorded where some of the dollois have stated that they have been misled.
“The Executive Committee will suspend more Dollois who are involved in the illegal activities in the next few days”, sources informed.
