Shillong, Dec 29: The office of the Syiem of Hima Sohra, Sohra Syiemship, has started to issue application forms for No Objection Certificate (NOC) to apply for trading licenses from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), following the directive from Meghalaya High Court.

Secretary of Hima Sohra, VV Rymmai said the office of Hima Sohra has issued a notification that the non-tribals can obtain the application forms for obtaining of the NOC from the office of the syiem between December 23 to 30 from 10 am to 5 pm during working days.

“The last date for submitting the application forms is on or before January 8 next year,” he informed.

According to him, the Syiem of Hima Sohra will then scrutinise the application forms before issuing NOC to them.

The issue

Mentionably, a group of citizens had filed a batch of writ petitions before the High Court of Meghalaya, seeking its intervention against the non-renewal of their trading licenses by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

The High Court order 

The High Court in its order on December 16, 2021 directed the office of the Syiem of Hima Sohra to complete the process of issuance of NOC within three weeks from the reciept of applications.

The court also directed the KHADC that on reciept of the applications for which NOC has been obtained shall procees the same within four weeks.

The order also stated that till the NOC and trading licence are under process, the applicants shall not be restrained from any manner from plying their trade due to non-renewal of the trading licence.