Shillong, Aug 9: The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday asked the Dorbar Shnong of Mawsynram to amicably resolve the issue pertaining to the granting of no-objection certificate (NOC) for conducting of the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin cave in Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills District.

Accordingly, the court has directed that the matter be listed on August 14, for further orders.

Traditional heads of Mawsynram, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of East Khasi Hills were summoned to appear before the court on Thursday afternoon during the hearing on a petition filed by the Yatra, which is a registered society, against the non-issuance of the NOC by the authorities concerned for conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave situated in Mawsynram which is revered by Hindus.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, senior advocate VGK Kynta said, “We cannot comment much at this stage as the matter is subjudice but the Court has allowed the Dorbar Shnong of Mawsynram village to decide on this issue and to resolve the same amicably.”

He said that the court has directed that the next hearing on the matter will be on August 14.

Asked, Kynta said, “The court has asked the Dorbar Shnong to decide on the matter keeping in mind that the place is a tourist attraction. But the point is we cannot speak much about the deliberation in the court as the matter is subjudice but the Dorbar will decide after consulting all stakeholders including Seng Khasi.”

The advocate further maintained that the Dorbar Shnong and other stakeholders are not against the yatra but are against making the cave as a place of worship.

To another question, he said, “When there is a violation from time to time, the Dorbar Shnong has got every right to refuse permission because when we lay down some guidelines, some SOPs, some conditions, if that is violated what we have to do, we reject, we refuse.”

During the hearing on Wednesday, S. Jindal, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the annual yatra has been a continuing affair and from 2011 onwards, with the formation of the society it was made more structured and organized.

The counsel showed the permissions earlier granted from 2011 onwards, issued by the District Administration till 2023 and submitted that the Dorbar Shnong on all these occasions, have also issued the necessary No Objection Certificate and permission, and that whatsoever conditions that have been prescribed have been strictly followed.

He further submitted that this year, though the first permission had been obtained on 27th June, 2024 from the District Administration with the condition therein that the organisers should obtain a No objection Certificate from the Dorbar Shnong, Mawsynram, inspite of reaching out to the said Dorbar, there was no response and that they only came to know about the rejection of the No Objection Certificate through the media.

He further submitted that there is no attempt whatsoever to establish any place of worship as has been reported and that throughout the years, the only act that has been done is to sprinkle water on the lingam and that there is no intention to hurt the sentiments or create any disturbances whatsoever in the said place.

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