SHILLONG, APR 29: Wahkhen village sordar Skhembor Khongjirem was remanded to one day judicial custody for violating the Meghalaya high court order prohibiting headmen from issuing any certificates.
Sources said the division bench of Meghalaya high court, however, reserved it order on the issue of contempt till Thursday.
Khongjirem was taken into custody by the police after a hearing was conducted by the high court on Wednesday. He was taken to the Sadar police station and latter forwarded to Shillong District Jail.
“He (Khongjirem) was sent to one day judicial custody and he would again be produce before the court tomorrow,” a senior police official informed. According to him, the court has reserved its final order on the matter till Thursday.
Meghalaya high court on April 23 had directed the Sordar to appear in person before the court today after taking cognizance media reports that he was issuing certificates to residents for bank account and bank loans thus violating the court’s order which prohibited headmen from issuing such certificates.
Questioning the powers of the traditional heads in the state, the high court last year had observed that a village/locality headman did not derive any right from law, and rule or from the Constitution of India to issue NOC for the purpose of birth/death or for registration of any document as well as for building permission and obtaining loan.
Further, the court order has also directed the state government
Earlier, Khongjirem in his statement to the media claimed that he has been issuing certificates to the residents of his village.
“I have been issuing the certificates since many villagers come to me for certificates either for opening of a bank account or for submission to the government departments to avail various schemes,” Khongjirem had stated. He claimed that the certificates have greatly helped residents, especially farmers who are applying for loan and various government schemes.- By Our Reporter
Its sad to know that leaders who is the guardian and leader of the community would have to summoned and jailed just because other authorities / agencies trust his office.
i bet no one knows that his own sheep better than these local leaders.