Bernard files PIL in HC on land transfer

SHILLONG: Former leader of the disbanded A’Chik National Volunteer Council Bernard N Marak has filed a PIL in the High Court of Meghalaya against the state government, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and others challenging the Land Transfer Act 1955 and the pattas issued by GHADC in an Akhing land besides the existence of Non Hill Mauza X in the Hill District of Garo Hills.
 In a statement issued on Thursday, he said the GHADC issued pattas (document of land ownership) over the Akhing land without the consent of the Nokma when there was a ruling already in the Court which judged District Councils are not authority of land in the Sixth Schedule areas.
“GHADC and government are politically united in exploiting the weak and the poor of Garo Hills for which this PIL is filed.
The land of the indigenous tribals is illegally grabbed in Garo Hills without following land acquisition processes,” he said.