Harijan Colony issue: HC fumes at HPC over misrepresentation

SHILLONG, July 3: The High Court of Meghalaya on Monday took strong objection to the allegation made by Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) that the court had misrepresented its stand.
It may be recalled that the state government had earlier submitted before the High Court that the HPC had agreed, in principle, to the blueprint prepared by the government for relocation of 342 families from Them Iew Mawlong, although with certain modifications.
Later, the committee, however, maintained that they had never agreed to the blueprint completely and that their stand was misrepresented in the court.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, which was hearing the matter concerning the relocation of Harijan Colony residents on Monday, said that the respondent (HPC) was playing catch and loose with the government and the court.
“It appears that the respondents are playing fast and loose both with the government and with the court,” it said in an order.
“A false impression was given on the last occasion that a minor matter had to be attended to but a subsequent statement was made that the Court had misinterpreted the submission,” the order read.
The High Court has expressed hope that the government would take immediate appropriate action and bring the matter to a close as expeditiously as possible.
The court has ordered the state government to report about the progress of action by July 18.