SHILLONG, FEB 10: The special court constituted by the Meghalaya government has fixed March 10 as the next sitting for trial against leaders of 14 ngos in Meghalaya involved in violating of the Supreme Court ruling against shutdowns.
The court headed by first class judicial magistrate R Rymbai was constituted by the government specifically to fast track trial of cases relating to the alleged violation of Supreme Court ruling the pro-ILP groups last year by calling frequent bandhs and shutdowns.
The pro-ILP organisations like the Khasi Students Union (KSU), the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and 11 others were charged with sponsoring the shutdowns, picketing and blockades which the government said were “unconstitutional and illegal.”
While none of the pro-ILP group leaders turn up at the hearing on Monday, the Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) and All India Garo Union (AIGU) deposed before the court of R Rymbai, official sources said.
The official informed, “The special court has fixed March 10, for the next sitting since the ngos who have appeared have sought for more time to file their show-cause.”
The source also informed that notices will again be served to all the leaders of the ngos after collecting their correct and valid addresses since some of the notices that were served earlier might not have reached them.
According to the source, so far only three ngos that includes Khasi Women Welfare and Development Association (KWWADA), CSWO and AIGU have confirmed that they have received the notices.
The CSWO, meanwhile, has appointed a lawyer to fight for their case.
Speaking to reporters, CSWO counsel Poonam Yadav said, “We have sought for more time from the court and we will submit our show-cause in the next hearing.” She said with the government filing the damage suit against the ngos including CSWO, it is the government who has to prove beyond doubt that the damage is cause by the CSWO.
Poonam said, “This is a court of law, whatever the government has done wrong or right, we have to come and challenge in the court not outside. So it will be good if all ngos come and give their replies as government is the one who ultimately has to prove and not them.”
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that her organization is willing take the challenge as it respects the law. She, however, questioned what the government has been doing about the damage which the CAG has found out. “If government is so gutsy in filing damage suits against us now we want to know what have it done against the CAG reports.” she said.
It may be mentioned, the damage suit was filed by B Khongwir, the political department undersecretary saying that the government incurred Rs 31.09 crore as loss during bandhs, picketing and blockades called by the pro-ILP ngos since September 2. Criminal acts such as arson and violence also took place besides the attacks which eventually led to the death of two persons, he had said.
The pro-ILP ngos have been demanding implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations Act, 1873 which facilitated restricted entry of outsiders to the state as was the case in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.Altogether 71 activists were arrested and 86 criminal cases were registered against them which included arson, murder, attempt to murder and other violent acts.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours