KHADC to challenge high court order on building rules

SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to challenge the High Court order which states that the MUDA Building Bye Laws will be applicable to all Shillong Master Plan areas.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Thursday, KHADC chief executive member (CEM) P.N Syiem said the Council is preparing necessary documents to file an appeal soon before the Court.
Syiem said sections 1 and 2 of the Meghalaya Town Country Planning Act, 1973, “clearly state that the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority cannot extend its bye laws to the jurisdiction of the Council without its consent”.
“By consent of the council, I mean it has to be decided on the floor of the House,” the CEM added.
The February 16 order of the HC Division Bench made absolute the earlier order of the Court delivered on December 16, 2015, which had said the jurisdiction of the MUDA Building Bye Laws would be extended beyond the municipal areas.
The High Court had made the observation while disposing of a pending PIL filed by one Tirot Sing Syiemlieh challenging the public notice issued by MUDA on November 5, 2015, exempting non-municipal areas from the purview of the bye laws.
Following the stay order, the urban body had withdrawn the exemption notification on January 21, 2016.