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DC order infringes HC ruling: Sohra Syiem

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Prohibition on ‘illegal’ collection of toll

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 17: The Office of the Syiem of Sohra has contended that the order from the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate that prohibits the collection of tolls by the Hima is in contravention of the High Court of Meghalaya’s ruling that had allowed the Hima Sohra and its Durbar to charge customary tax on the stretch of road in question.
In a petition to the Superintendent of Majai Land Custom Station against the prohibition of indefinite collection of toll between Umdud and Zero Point Road, the Office of the Syiem of Sohra said the district magistrate’s order violates the interim order of the High Court of Meghalaya dated April 13, 2022, which had permitted Hima Sohra and its Durbar to charge a customary toll of Rs 200 per vehicle for the use of the Umdud-Zero Point Road, so as to ensure the road maintenance.
It was also pointed out in the petition that even the division bench of the then Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh had reiterated that Hima Sohra Syiemship has due authority to levy the toll.
“However, the order of the District Magistrate prohibiting the Hima Sohra to collect the customary toll, as authorised by the High Court of Meghalaya, both single and division bench, is a blatant contempt to degrade the order of the High Court, and hence this resolution of the Hima Sohra and its Durbar to immediately close the road in case of contempt,” Syiem said.
The Syiem of Sohra further said that the district magistrate’s order of closure is also in the midst of unrest and tension in Majai village, which the Hima Sohra is trying its level best to resolve.
The Office of Syiem of Sohra also informed that it will show-cause the Umdud-Zero Point Road maintenance contractor, Tamdor Sing Nadon, over complaints of non-maintenance of the road from the residents of Majai.
It may be mentioned that East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner SC Sadhu had recently imposed an indefinite prohibition on unauthorised collection of tolls in the district, and had also issued strict warning against violators of the order.
“It has been brought to the notice of the undersigned that the plying of limestone export trucks from Umdud to Zero Point road, part of the route leading to Majai LCS, was stopped by the inhabitants of Majai. The exporters have agreed to voluntarily halt the plying of trucks till an amicable solution is arrived at between the two parties i.e., Dorbar Shnong of Majai and Syiem of Sohra. There is illegal collection of toll by the Syiem of Sohra from export truck that passes through Majai Land Custom Station at Rs. 400 per export truck, which may lead to law and order situation,” the order had said.
According to the order, the prohibition was issued to prevent any law and order situation due to the illegal collection of tolls or any form of forcible collection at check gates or toll gates along the national highways, state highways, and major district roads within East Khasi Hills district.

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