Umroi land losers move HC against State Govt

SHILLONG: Some of the claimants for compensation for the Umroi Airport land acquisition have filed a writ petition in the High Court against the State government.
This was informed by Paul Lyngdoh, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The PAC had earlier urged the government to institute an internal inquiry into the controversy for claims and counter claims.
“It was the view of the State government that this renders the matter sub judice and that the State government will not be able to institute an internal inquiry unless it gets a direction to that effect from the High Court,” Lyngdoh told reporters after the PAC meeting.
“After detailed discussion, the PAC will on its own get the matter legally examined and the Commissioner and Secretary of the state Assembly and the Law officers will be engaged in getting clarity on the legal position of the matter. The same will be placed on November 15,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said a report of a committee headed by L. Kharkongor, then Commissioner and Secretary of the Revenue Department to verify and examine the acquisition of land for expansion of Umroi Airport was submitted to the PAC.