Shillong, May 14: The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday decided to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Seng Khasi Hima Mawsynram (SKHM) against the alleged attempt to prevent them from carrying out their age-old religious practices on a piece of land in Mawsynram village in East Khasi Hills District.

In its order, the bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh said select members of this tribe call themselves Niam Khasi and profess to practice Hindu Sanatan Dharma. This section has filed this public interest litigation through the petitioner (president of SKHM Tyllilang Myrthong).

The bench noted that there is a serious dispute between this section and another, also belonging to the Khasi tribe, Syiem of Hima Mawsynram, Mawsynram Syiemship, over a piece and parcel of land and property in Mawsynram village.

At present, it is under the control of the Headman or Rangbah Shnong Dorbar, Mawsynram.

Myrthong, while appearing in person, submitted that the latter section of Khasis have wrongfully taken possession of the land and property and is preventing them from carrying out their age -old religious practices on this property.

“We observe from the records that there is a Title suit (T.S. No.74 of 2024) filed by the Syiem Mawsynram and Dorbar against the petitioner group of Khasis pending before the Presiding Officer, Subordinate District Council Court, Shillong, in which as submitted by learned counsel for the Syiem Hima Mawsynram, an alleged memorandum of understanding between the parties duly registered by which the petitioner is given the right of worship in the said property is sought to be set aside and cancelled. Paragraph 4 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India read with the High Court of Meghalaya (Jurisdiction over District Council Courts) Order, 2014 recognises the jurisdiction of the District Council over civil matters with the High Court exercising a right of appeal or revision only in tribal issues,” the bench noted.

“In those circumstances, at the moment we direct the respondent Nos.16 and 17 to produce the cause papers of the proceedings before the District Council Court together with orders that may have been passed by the said body to enable us to assess the rights of the parties, prima facie and to pass an appropriate order in this matter. The question of jurisdiction of this Court is kept open and shall be decided on the next day of hearing,” it stated while directing the Advocate for the State to inform the Presiding Officer, Subordinate District Council Court, Shillong that he might take no notice of any process of this litigation served upon him by the petitioner.

The next hearing on the matter has been listed for June 18, 2025.

Also Read: NH10, lifeline to Sikkim and Kalimpong, to shut for nine hours from May 15

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