Shillong, Mar 19: The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has decided to approach the court against the extension of ban on the outfit last year by another five years.
The HNLC, which demands sovereignty for Khasi-Jaintia Hills, has appointed a legal counsel to represent its case to challenge the ban before the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Tribunal during its hearing scheduled in Shillong on March 22.
The HNLC appointed Fernando Shangpliang as its legal counsel for the purpose, according to HNLC representative and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) president Sadon K Blah.
The Ministry of Home Affairs extended the ban on the outfit for five years by declaring it an “unlawful organisation” on 14 November 2024.
Underscoring the importance of HNLC’s decision to legally contest the ban, Blah said during the “hectic peace process” with the outfit, neither the state government nor the central government could make it clear if the ban on HNLC would be lifted.
As representatives, Blah said, they had impressed upon the government on several occasions the need for lifting of the ban for the peace process to progress further.
Blah, significantly, pointed out that the “illegal organisation” approaching the judicial platform itself shows the HNLC’s seriousness on the peace process.
“I hope the judiciary, the state and central governments will understand that the HNLC is still very much serious in coming forward for the peace process,” he said.
“It has failed in the political platform and now taking recourse in the judicial platform and hope things move positively,” he added.
