By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 17: Observing that the rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of India cannot be deprived from any citizen, the High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday directed the Syiem of Sohra to issue NOCs to a group of traders from Majai area under Sohra Syiemship within three weeks while directing the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to renew their trading licences within four weeks of receipt of the NOCs.
Continuing the hearing on a writ petition filed by a group of non-tribal traders, the Court observed that the writ petitioners are traders and the non-renewal of their trading licences will result in the deprivation of their right to livelihood.
“Accordingly, the respondent No. 4 (Syiem of Sohra) is directed to complete the process of issuance of NOCs to all the eligible applicants within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order and the respondent No. 5 (KHADC) thereafter, on receipt of the applications for which NOC has been obtained shall process the same within four weeks thereafter,” the order said.
The Court also said that till the process of renewal of trading licences is completed by the Syiem of Hima Sohra and the KHADC, the writ petitioners shall not be restrained in any manner from plying their trade due to non-renewal of their trade licence.
It may be mentioned that the traders had filed a batch of writ petitions before the High Court, seeking the Court’s intervention against non-renewal of their trading licences, 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 case of the petitioners was that, they are all traders who are the permanent and genuine residents of Majai area, Sohra Syiemship and are engaged in the trade of limestone, non-basmati rice and fruits etc.
The petitioners submitted that due to a law-and-order situation on February 28, 2020, in Ichamati which had resulted in the unfortunate loss of life of a local person, the Syiem of Sohra has not issued the requisite NOCs to enable the respondent District Council to process and renew their trading licences.