Shillong, Aug 11: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to reinstate Ainam Manik Syiem as Syiem of Hima Mylliem, setting aside the Voice of People Party (VPP)-led Council’s decision to suspend the traditional chief.
In the order, Justice W Diengdoh also quashed the appointment of Alban Fredrick Syiem as Acting Syiem.
The KHADC had violated Section 7 of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) Act, 2007, according to the court.
Any complaint against a Syiem – the provision says – must first be placed before the Durbar Hima and the Syiem must be heard before suspension or removal.
“This not being done, the impugned action of suspension of the petitioner cannot be sustained in law,” the court said.
“Accordingly, the related impugned notifications, including the suspension order is hereby set aside and quashed. The respondent KHADC is hereby directed to forthwith reinstate the petitioner/Syiem as the Syiem of Mylliem.”
On the appointment of an Acting Syiem, the court ruled that Section 8 of the 2007 Act requires the Deputy Syiem to be appointed when the Syiem is suspended.
KHADC had instead appointed Alban Fredrick Syiem, citing that the Deputy Syiem Mansan Manik Syiem was the suspended Syiem’s brother.
The court called the notification “legally flawed” and also faulted it for being signed by only one Executive Member, contrary to Section 25 of the Act.
“The appointment of the respondent No. 4 as the Acting Syiem is also hereby set aside and quashed,” the court ordered.With the suspension itself set aside, the court said the Deputy Syiem’s petition no longer subsists and he “will continue to remain as the Deputy Syiem.”
Both petitions were disposed of with no costs.
Syiem seeks KHADC’s cooperation
Following the court order reinstating him as Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Manik Syiem on Tuesday welcomed the verdict and called for stronger cooperation with the KHADC.
“I express my gratitude to all the elders, staff, Myntri Syiem, Syiem Khynnah and the senior advocate who represented me after my suspension on 22nd May 2026,” he said.
Addressing the 1/8 share paid to KHADC, he clarified that the Hima has continued the payment even though it is based on a 1953 House Resolution, not a law.
“We have always paid the share to the district council. The 1/8 share is only a 1953 House Resolution, not an Act. But out of respect, we continue to pay a token amount, as was done by my predecessors, and we want to maintain close relations between the Hima and the Council.”
He also compared it to the ILP resolution.
“The ILP Resolution was passed within the law but is not yet an Act. The 1/8 share is in the same position — still a resolution, not a law.”
Calling for better coordination, he added, “We respect the district council. There will always be shortcomings in human relations, but we want cooperation with the EC of KHADC to avoid any misunderstanding. Whoever is in the EC, we must work with the KHADC office.”
