Shillong, aug 11: The Meghalaya High Court has remanded a matter concerning the administration of Shnat Hima Nongwah Mawtamur back to the Executive Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), directing it to pass appropriate orders within a period of two months.
The court’s decision was based on the fact that the order correcting an erroneous arrangement made in 2015 was signed by a single Executive Member, whereas Rule-31 of The Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951, requires a minimum of two members to sign any order of the Executive Committee.
The petitioner, Shnat Hima Nongwah Mawtamur, represented by its Sirdar, Estansing Jana Nongbet, challenged the administration of the area, which falls under the Sohiong Lyngdohship.
The area was previously placed under Jirang Syiemship due to an erroneous arrangement made in 2015, but was later corrected by the respondents through an order dated December 13, 2024.
The bench headed by Justice HS Thangkhiew, in its judgment passed on Monday, observed that the order was indeed incompetent due to being signed by a single Executive Member.
The court, therefore, remanded the matter back to the Executive Committee, directing it to pass appropriate orders within two months from the date of receipt of the court’s order.
The court also directed that the status quo be maintained with regard to the administration of Shnat Hima Nongwah Mawtamur until the Executive Committee passes the necessary orders.
“In this view of the matter on this short point, the matter is disposed in the motion stage itself, by remanding the matter back to the Executive Committee, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to pass appropriate orders, within a period of 2(two) months from the date of receipt of this order. Till then, it is provided that status quo shall be maintained with regard to the administration of Shnat Hima Nongwah Mawtamur,” the bench has stated while disposing of the writ petition.
