By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: A group of citizens have filed a batch of writ petitions before the High Court of Meghalaya, seeking the latter’s intervention against non-renewal of their trading licenses, which were issued by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) under The United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation, 1954.
The petitioners have submitted that they are all traders and are permanent residents of Majai area under Sohra Syiemship.
“It appears that due to a law and order situation that had occurred on February 28, 2020, in these areas, the Syiem of Sohra has not issued the requisite NOCs to enable the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to process and renew the trading licenses,” the petitioners said.
Sujit Dey, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that in spite of repeated attempts and in spite of meetings that had been held under the Chairmanship of the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), wherein assurances were made and resolutions passed with regard to the issuance of the NOCs, nothing has transpired.
This compelled the petitioners to approach the Court, by way of the writ petitions, the counsel told the Court.
Senior counsel VGK Kynta, assisted by counsel A Kharshiing, on behalf of the KHADC, submitted that the Syiem of Sohra may be given some time to process the NOCs, after which the KHADC will do the needful with regard the license.
Additional Advocate General ND Chullai, assisted by additional senior government attorney R Gurung, while appearing for the respondents also concurred to the submissions made by the KHADC counsel and submitted that in the interest of justice, the Syiem of Sohra be given some time to process the applications of the writ petitioners for issuance of NOCs.
The Court listed the matter on December 16 for further consideration and directed the Syiem of Sohra to appear before the Court.
It is made clear that pendency of this writ petition shall not prevent the Syiem from taking appropriate steps in expediting the process, the Court said.
