SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has blamed the Autonomous District Council (ADCs) in the State for the recent ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya which stripped the Rangbah Shnong of its powers to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
“The district councils have not been able the formulate laws to define the powers and function of the Rangbah Shnong since 1952. This kind of order would have never come up had the district councils carried out their job as mandated by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” HYC general secretary Robert June Kharjahrin said here on Monday.
He urged the traditional heads to appeal against this ruling before Division Bench of the High Court.
“Article 13 of the Constitution of India gives us the right to appeal against the judgment of the court,” he said.
The HYC general secretary claimed that the judgment has not only affected the headmen but also the traditional chiefs including the District Councils and added that they would impress upon both the KHADC and the JHADC to appeal against this ruling.
HYC president Peter J Lawai observed that this ruling will have serious ramifications in the future.
“People from rural areas will be the worst sufferers since they will have to travel many miles just to get a residential certificate,” Lawai said.
HYC organizing secretary Nickson Dohling found it strange that KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum had been directed to appear before the court.
“He (Nongrum) has not committed any criminal offence. He only stood up for the cause of his people,” Dohling said.
Dohling also urged the various Dorbar Shnong and traditional chiefs to come out in support of Nongrum during the hearing on January 27.
“We will be meeting the various traditional heads to convince them to attend the hearing,” he added.
