Court wants presence of HYC member during hearing

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya is unhappy over the unavailability of one of the alleged contemnors Nickson Dohling, a member of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), during the hearing of the Court.
The case relates to the protest of the HYC members on the Court premises during the hearing on the matter related to the powers of headmen.
The principal contemnor and KHADC MDC, Adelbert Nongrum and four other respondents were also present during the hearing on Tuesday.
The Court observed that this matter has been regularly adjourned since November 2016 for unavailability of Dohling, who was said to be suffering from serious ailment and applications were made on his behalf seeking exemption from personal presence.
However, no specific medical certificates were placed before the Court.
The Court recalled that on the last occasion, even while adjourning the matter while granting exemption of personal presence of the contemnor, the Court expected that in case of his further absence, specific medical certificates and reports should be placed before the Court for consideration.
On Tuesday, an application was filed supported by the affidavit of one of the other alleged contemnors Robertjune Kharjahrin stating that Dohling is suffering from ‘Immunocompromised State with Koch’s Abdomen/Hyponatremia’.
With the application, a certificate from the Consultant Medicine Specialist of Woodland Hospital, was also attached stating the ailment and further that the patient’s condition is too weak to attend the Court.
The requisite case summary was placed before the Court. “The present one is a contempt matter and the presence of the said Nickson Dohling along with the principal contemnor as also the other alleged contemnors has been necessary for further proceedings but the matter cannot be kept indefinitely pending for want of presence of one of the alleged contemnors,” Court observed.
However, upon Court’s indicating want of specific medical documents related with the case summary, counsel K. Paul appearing for the alleged contemnors submitted that he will be filing a comprehensive affidavit with the relevant documents on or before the next date. Paul also submitted that he will prepare the matter for making submissions on behalf of the other alleged contemnors on the next date so that the matter may proceed further.
Taking note of the submissions so made, the application was allowed and personal presence of Dohling was exempted.
The matter has been listed for hearing on August 21.