TURA: A section of the employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), who refused to join work on Thursday despite an order from the Meghalaya High Court, is staring at possible contempt proceedings.
Around 250 employees attended office on Thursday after the High Court on Wednesday ordered the protesters to resume work. The remaining workforce stayed away from the GHADC office after they were allegedly threatened by a group of agitators.
The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday took a strong exception to the violation of its order and directed the Deputy Commissioner and the SP of West Garo Hills to constitute an inquiry into the day’s events. It also asked them to produce the trouble-makers in court on Friday noon.
Justice S.R Sen passed the order after it was brought to the court’s notice that seven employees – Astelitha A Sangma, Cris Jenny Marak, Betrodar M Marak, Edwina K Sangma, Simon Sangma, Projen Sangma and Raju Marak – were forbidding other employees to enter office and as a result causing disturbance to the smooth functioning of the Council.
“The registry is directed to send a copy of this order immediately to the petitioners’ association, District Magistrate, Tura, as well as to the Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Tura for information and necessary action,” said Justice Sen’s court order on Thursday.
The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday had passed an order directing the protesters to return to work and accept the decision of the GHADC Executive Committee to pay nine months’ dues in phases.
The EC of the council had informed the High Court that each month, beginning September, the employees would be paid two months’ dues until all pending salaries are cleared. However, when the EC announced the court order on Thursday morning, the employees took it with a pinch of salt.
A magistrate was called in to speak to the agitating members but talks fell through.
It was then left to DC Pravin Bakshi to issue an order to the employees directing them to withdraw the strike and join work, failing which legal action would be initiated against them. Those employees not reporting to duty were asked to give the same in writing with the reasons for not complying with the court order.
Some of the staff met Bakshi but stopped short of giving a written statement for not being at their work stations. The protesters met Chief Executive Member Denang T Sangma and his deputy Augustine R Marak on Thursday evening and informed them that they would join office on Friday morning.
