By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 22: The High Court of Meghalaya on Monday directed the government to issue a notice to the president of the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA), Ricaldinus Dohling, in connection with a PIL filed by tour operator Alan West Kharkongor.
Hearing the case, acting Chief Justice Hamarsan Sing Thangkhiew stated that the notice should be served on Dohling within three days.
Advocate General Amit Kumar, assisted by Rosy L. Colney, accepted the notice on behalf of the state government represented by the Chief Secretary, the Commissioner and Secretary of the Transport Department, and the Director of Tourism. The court clarified that no further notice was required for these respondents.
Counsel for the petitioner, Phuyosa Yobin, appeared virtually during the hearing. The matter has been listed for further orders on October 14.
Meanwhile, the AKMTTA is scheduled to hold a meeting with representatives of the state government on Tuesday at the Main Secretariat’s conference room.
Dohling confirmed that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma will not attend, but the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport, along with senior officials, will be present. He said that 26 associations under the Synjuk Ki Trai Bad Ki Nongniah Kali Kamai Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep are supporting the AKMTTA.
Members of the association will assemble on the State Central Library premises at 11:30 am, where a brief meeting will be held before a 10-member delegation proceeds to the official talks.
He urged members to maintain calm and avoid any action that could create law and order issues.
“We plan to brief our members on the State Central Library premises on the outcome of the meeting,” Dohling said.
Reiterating their key demand, he said Assam vehicles should be restricted to dropping passengers only at designated points, from where Meghalaya tourist taxis can take them to tourist destinations.
He added that the association is also pressing for the implementation of the 2007 Reciprocal Transport Agreement between Assam and Meghalaya, and a new transport policy under the Meghalaya Motor Vehicle Rules.
The proposed policy should address taxation, tourist permits, and identification of entry/exit points and depots, he said.
