SHILLONG: The state government is yet to file a restoration petition to strengthen the over Rs 31-crore damage suit after a city court disposed of the case last year.
A lawyer dealing with the case said there is a move to file restoration petition, which, however, has been pending for several months.
The case was filed by the erstwhile Congress-led government against leaders of several pressure groups, who had sponsored agitation demanding the implementation of ILP in the state in 2012-13.
The agitation had led to large scale destruction of public and private properties which compelled the government to form a special court to deal with the damage suit of over Rs 31 crore.
An official source said on Sunday that after the lower court disposed of the case last year, the state government has not followed up the matter.
In the order, the judicial magistrate had said that in spite of umpteen opportunities given to the government, it has remained absent during the hearing for the last several days without taking any steps.
The court also pointed that that the government is no longer interested in pursuing the case against the pressure groups while adding that there was laxity on the part of the government.
The cases were filed under Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act (MMPOA) against 14 pressure groups – KSU, FKJGP, GSU, HNYF, All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO), Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF), Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF), Khasi Women Welfare and Development Association (KWWADA), Association of Democratic Empowerment (ADE) and A’chik Youth Welfare Organisation (AYWO), Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO), Synjuk Seng Samla Shnong (SSSS) and All India Garo Union (AIGU).
However, CSWO, SSSS and AIGU had contested the case in the court.
Three people were killed during the protests against the government and 92 cases were charge-sheeted in 2014 out of the 129 criminal cases registered by the police.
Later in 2015, the government withdrew 92 cases filed against the leaders of pressure groups.
Sources said that with the state government not pursuing the case, similar situation may happen to persons arrested in connection with anti-CAA protests in the city since December last.
Police had arrested 16 persons and registered 41 cases for violence during the anti-CAA protests under Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and MMPOA besides adding several sections of IPC.
