SHILLONG, June 24: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday suspended the operation of an order issued by the Executive Committee of the KHADC on May 29, which had terminated the services and revoked the regularisation of two employees.
The stay order was issued by a single bench of Justice B Bhattacharjee, in response to petitions filed by the affected employees — Jane Suzane Warbah and Patricia Lyngdoh.
In the case concerning Jane Suzane Warbah (Jyrwa), the court heard L Khyriem, counsel for the applicant, and CCT Sangma, counsel for the KHADC.
The court noted that through this application, the petitioner had sought a stay on Office Order No.343 dated May 29, 2025, which discontinued her appointment as Chainman and resulted in her termination from service.
“It transpires from the submissions made by both parties and the materials on record that the applicant was appointed as a Chainman via Office Order No.132 dated January 24, 2025. After approximately four months of service, her appointment was discontinued through the impugned order dated May 29, 2025,” the court observed.
The court further stated that the order of termination, prima facie, does not indicate that the applicant was served with a notice or given any opportunity of being heard before the decision was made. “In view of the above, at this juncture, it is deemed appropriate to suspend the operation of the impugned Office Order No.343 dated 29.05.2025 till the returnable date,” the court stated.
In the petition filed by Patricia Lyngdoh, the court heard S Wahlang, counsel for the applicant, and CCT Sangma for the KHADC.
The applicant sought a stay on Office Order No.138 dated January 24, 2025, which revoked her regularisation as Enforcement Constable and reverted her back to the position of casual employee.
The court noted that Lyngdoh was initially appointed as a casual employee via Office Order No.534 dated August 25, 2016. After serving for approximately eight years, her service was regularised as Enforcement Constable through Office Order No.127 dated January 24, 2025, based on a decision of the KHADC Executive Committee.
However, the court stated that through Office Order No.138, issued the same day, her regularisation was revoked without any indication that she had been issued a notice or given an opportunity to be heard.
“In view of the above, at this juncture, it is deemed appropriate to suspend the operation of the impugned Office Order No.138 dated 24.01.2025 till the returnable date,” the court ordered.
The High Court has further directed that the two separate petitions be listed along with the main writ petition for further hearing.
