SHILLONG: The Dollois will follow up the pending case related to the collection of toll tax with the Supreme Court.
The case against collection of customary toll by the Dollois of Jaintia Hills, which had attracted severe criticism from the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council on the powers of Dollois to collect such tax, came up before the Supreme Court on January 5.
The JHADC had filed an interlocutory application to implead itself as a party to the case and also for direction from the Supreme Court to Dollois not to collect customary dues.
In its application, the JHADC had raised and brought to the notice of the Supreme Court several actions by the Dollois in collecting customary tolls and also about the contempt letter from the Dollois’ counsel in Delhi to its officials.
During the January 5 hearing, it was submitted by the counsel for the JHADC that the collection of customary toll by Dollois is without any authority and no interim direction was passed.
However, the counsel for the Dollois opposed the submission and said it is within the power of the Dollois.
The Supreme Court did not grant any interim relief and merely issued direction to the Dollois for filing reply.
The counsel for the JHADC also mentioned before the court that such practices of collection of customary toll had never existed prior to the order passed by the Supreme Court on July 29 last.
The court refused to entertain his plea and did not restrain the Dollois from collecting the customary toll.
The Dollois of Jaintia Hills will raise the illegality of the Act passed by the Council in 2015 for appointment of Dollois and others before the Supreme Court in the next date of hearing.
“The Constitution of
India does not give any power to the Council to meddle with the religious affairs of any community or tribe. It has only given power to the Council to appoint headmen and chiefs which are for administrative purpose and not religious purpose,” said C. Lyngdoh, the Chairman of Dorbar Ki Daloi Ka Ri-Jaintia Jowai.
