SHILLONG: The High Court on Wednesday took an exception to the stand of the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi in not bringing the records related to compensation to Umroi land owners in the court.
After the appearance of Deputy Commissioner CP Gotmare, by way of some incomplete responses, the additional senior government advocate K. Khan submitted that the former had taken necessary steps but has not brought the relevant files on Wednesday.
“It is difficult to appreciate that the deputy commissioner would come to Shillong to instruct the state counsel without complete record. We are constrained to order that the deputy commissioner concerned shall not be entitled for any travel allowance for today’s attendance and his journey shall be at his own cost,” the court said.
The court wanted to know the compliance by the deputy commissioner regarding the order of the Supreme Court on August 2 this year on land compensation.
The apex court had said, “The only other issue which survives is whether the public money has been squandered, as suggested, by offering high rate of compensation which is against the rate offered by the owner and the rate at which she purchased just before acquisition. Question as to who is entitled to compensation may also require consideration. Pending such consideration, we injunct Particia Nongsiej from parting with the money available with her which aspect may be overseen by the deputy commissioner and similarly money available with the Stied Dkhar may also be kept intact and the deputy commissioner concerned may oversee that aspect also.”
In response, Khan submitted that he was to take instructions in this regard and the deputy commissioner, Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh, was about to appear in the Court.
“It is difficult to appreciate the approach on the part of the government and its officers that the Court is made to wait for the response to its queries. In fact, concrete compliance of the direction ought to have been reported at the very outset,” the court said.
