Latest news with #MeghalayaHighCourt
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PIL challenges Khasi Lineage legislation, Meghalaya HC seeks AG's response
Shillong, The Meghalaya High Court has sought a response from the Advocate General after a group challenged the provisions of a legislation that restricts issuance of Scheduled Tribes certificates to people who opt to use their father's or husband's surname. PIL challenges Khasi Lineage legislation, Meghalaya HC seeks AG's response The group, Syngkhong Rymphei Thymmai, is seeking to reform or move away from the matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance pass through the mother's line. Several provisions of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Act, 1997, sought to protect the matrilineal lineage practised by the Khasi tribals in Meghalaya. The high court was hearing a PIL that contests the legal validity of restrictions imposed under the Act and raises concerns over the issuance of Scheduled Tribe certificates to Khasi individuals who choose to adopt surnames from their father or husband. The immediate cause for the petition stems from a communication dated July 21, 2020, issued by the Social Welfare Department to the Deputy Commissioners of East and West Khasi Hills. The letter had clarified that the Act did not bar individuals from adopting surnames from either parent and allowed non-Khasi wives to adopt their husband's surname. However, the letter was withdrawn by the Department on May 21, 2024, through a communication, resulting in authorities allegedly refusing to issue ST certificates to Khasi persons using their father's or husband's surname. The petitioner argued that as long as the individual met the bloodline and lineage requirements under the Act, as amended in 2023, the choice of surname should not be a ground for denial of certification. In its order, a division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, observed that resolution of the matter is vital in the interest of the Khasi community and stated that affidavits would be called for only if required at a later stage. The bench directed that notice be served upon the Advocate General and listed the matter for further hearing on August 7. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
14 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
PIL challenges Khasi Lineage legislation, Meghalaya HC seeks AGs response
Shillong, Jul 23 (PTI) The Meghalaya High Court has sought a response from the Advocate General after a group challenged the provisions of a legislation that restricts issuance of Scheduled Tribes certificates to people who opt to use their father's or husband's surname. The group, Syngkhong Rymphei Thymmai, is seeking to reform or move away from the matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance pass through the mother's line. Several provisions of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Khasi Social Custom of Lineage) Act, 1997, sought to protect the matrilineal lineage practised by the Khasi tribals in Meghalaya. The high court was hearing a PIL that contests the legal validity of restrictions imposed under the Act and raises concerns over the issuance of Scheduled Tribe certificates to Khasi individuals who choose to adopt surnames from their father or husband. The immediate cause for the petition stems from a communication dated July 21, 2020, issued by the Social Welfare Department to the Deputy Commissioners of East and West Khasi Hills. The letter had clarified that the Act did not bar individuals from adopting surnames from either parent and allowed non-Khasi wives to adopt their husband's surname. However, the letter was withdrawn by the Department on May 21, 2024, through a communication, resulting in authorities allegedly refusing to issue ST certificates to Khasi persons using their father's or husband's surname. The petitioner argued that as long as the individual met the bloodline and lineage requirements under the Act, as amended in 2023, the choice of surname should not be a ground for denial of certification. In its order, a division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, observed that resolution of the matter is vital in the interest of the Khasi community and stated that affidavits would be called for only if required at a later stage. The bench directed that notice be served upon the Advocate General and listed the matter for further hearing on August 7. PTI JOP NN (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 21:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
Eviction drive carried out in Shillong in compliance with Meghalaya HC orders
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Shillong, Jul 22 (PTI) Shillong Municipal Board authorities on Tuesday carried out an eviction drive in the Khyndailad area here in compliance with the Meghalaya High Court's orders. During the drive, the authorities confiscated goods and dismantled stalls of street vendors who were operating without valid certificates of vending (COV). Acting on a state government directive that set a deadline (July 22) for all unauthorised vendors to vacate the area, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) officials had been verifying vending permits for the past few days. 'Only those vendors who were able to produce valid COVs were allowed to continue operating. The rest had their stalls removed and materials seized," an SMB official at the site told PTI. The action follows directions from the Meghalaya High Court, which had pulled up the state government and municipal authorities for failing to regulate street vending, especially in congested commercial zones such as the Khyndailad area, the city centre. As part of its continuing oversight, the high court also appointed a special officer to monitor compliance and implementation of vending regulations. The officer has been tasked with overseeing the identification and development of designated vending zones, ensuring transparency in the issuance of certificates of vending, and submitting periodic reports on the progress of implementation to the Court. In line with the court's order and the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the state government has identified three designated vending zones in the city. These are located at the MUDA Complex, the parking lot opposite the SBI Main Branch at Khyndailad, and at the old Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) building. The vending zone at MUDA Complex will cater to a large section of central Shillong vendors, while the space opposite SBI is being redesigned to accommodate walk-in customers and maintain smooth traffic flow. The old MTC building is being repurposed to create structured vending spaces with basic amenities for relocated vendors. Officials said work is underway to operationalise these zones, with plans for phased relocation of authorised vendors in the coming weeks. PTI JOP SBN SBN view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 15:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Gazette
15-07-2025
- India Gazette
Assam: Woman buries husband at house premises, arrested after confessing to murder
Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 15 (ANI): Assam police arrested a 38-year-old woman for allegedly murdering her husband and burying the body inside their house premises at Pandu area in Guwahati city, officials said on Monday. The shocking incident took place at Joymoti Nagar area of Pandu in the state. According to the police, the victim, Sabial Rahman was a scrap dealer was murdered by his wife, Rahima Khatun, 38, on June 26. A senior police official said that, after June 26 she told her acquaintance that her husband had gone to Kerala for work, but the victim's brother reached the police on July 12 and approached the police to register a complaint about Sabial Rahman being missing. 'On July 13, a woman named Rahima Khatun came to Jalukbari police station told police that, her missing husband Sabial Rahman already died and she murdered her husband. On June 26 night, there was a fight in between them inside their house and Sabial Rahman was at intoxicated state and Sabial died due to injury. She buried her husband body inside the house compound,' Padmanav Baruah, DCP (West) of Guwahati city police said. Suspecting involvement of multiple people in the case, he added, 'We suspect that 2-3 more people are also involved because it is not possible for a lady to dug a pit and to bury the body.' This incident comes just a few weeks after the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi in the neighbouring state of Meghalaya, who was killed during his honeymoon. The Shillong court sent the accused Shilom James to 14 days of judicial custody. Two other accused, builder Lokendra Tomar and watchman Balveer Ahirwar (also known as Billa), were sent to 7 days of judicial custody after their earlier 6-day police remand ended. A few days earlier, a team from Shillong Police seized a CCTV DVR from the Indore residence of Shilom James in connection with the murder case. Family members of Raja Raghuvanshi said that they would appeal before the Meghalaya High Court for the Narco test of the accused. (ANI)
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Shillong hawker eviction drive: Meghalaya High Court appoints special officer to ensure strict adherence to legal procedures
The Meghalaya High Court has appointed a senior advocate as a special officer to oversee the ongoing eviction of street vendors in Khyndailad area in Shillong and ensure strict adherence to the due process of law and maintain peace during the drive. Khyndailad, also known as Police Bazar, has a number of hotels, restaurants and a variety of shops. It is one of the popular hangout destinations in the State capital. The division Bench of Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh appointed senior advocate Subhasis Chakrawarty as the Special Officer during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Thursday (July 3, 2025) after a hawkers' association moved the Court, alleging that the authorities were evicting the vendors forcibly without allotting them alternative vending spaces. The division Bench directed the special officer to supervise the entire process, prepare a verified list of licensed vendors and coordinate with both the Shillong Roadside Hawkers Association and local authorities. "Above all, the Special Officer, with his vast knowledge, experience, maturity, and tact, shall ensure that our orders in this public interest litigation are implemented without any breach of peace or commission of any offence," the Bench stated. The court also allowed licensed vendors to sell their wares at Police Bazar during restricted hours — 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. — subject to a strict undertaking not to disrupt traffic or pedestrian movement. Unlicensed vendors, however, will not be permitted to operate in the area. 'If there is any breach, the special officer along with local and police authorities shall disallow vending in the area,' the Bench warned. The hawkers' association has given an undertaking that all vendors will shift immediately to alternative vending zones once allotted by the authorities. 'Non-compliant vendors will face immediate eviction,' the court ordered. The Bench said other vendors are free to apply for licenses, which must be processed lawfully. The court will review such applications in future hearings based on reports from authorities. The State Government had identified three locations for hawkers to carry out their businesses and also offered them a relocation allowance of ₹20,000 each. The Special Officer was directed to submit a compliance report by August 5, 2025.
