Shillong, April 24: The Meghalaya High Court on Monday deferred the hearing on the issue related to the relocation of the Sweepers’ Colony from Them Iew Mawlong to June 7.

The order was passed by the Division Bench based on the request made by the state government and the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) during the hearing held here.

“At the request of the parties, let the matter stand over for six weeks. List on June 7, 2023,” the bench said in its order.

On April 21, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar had informed that the state government has decided to soon invite the HPC for discussion on the proposal to relocate the 342 families of Sweepers’ Colony to the existing land of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB).

Also Read: Four organizations seek amendments to Meghalaya Succession to Property Act

A meeting was also convened by the deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong in the presence of Dhar with officials of the government to discuss the issue here on Friday last week, a day after the HPC had rejected the government’s proposal in its reply.

“First of all we have to study the reply (submitted by the HPC) and see what they have stated and based on that we will call a meeting,” Dhar had said while informing that likely the government will invite the HPC for discussion this week.

In its 6-page reply sent to the Deputy Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya and other concerned departments, the HPC had alleged that the proposal of the government was “incomplete, unsuitable, unprepared, unfair and undemocratic.”

The reply also came after the deadline issued by the state government had expired 10 days ago.

The HPC had also stated in its reply that: “There are serious lacunae, sweeping and undesirable conclusions in the approach and attitude of the High-Level Committee of the Meghalaya government.”

“We are absolutely devastated that since the formation of the new government, ministers, MLAs and certain groups have been making unnecessary remarks saying that the whole issue would be resolved within the month of April. What magical trick do they have up their sleeve to resolve the issue within days? The matter is sub-judice and they are only paying lip service to respect for the judiciary. We will not buckle under political duress,” it had also added.

Also Read: 3 ADCs of Meghalaya oppose Uniform Civil Code in Sixth Schedule areas