Yatra filed petition in High Court of Meghalaya for denial of NOC for annual pilgrimage in Mawjymbuin

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 7, 2024

Aggrieved with no granting of No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram (DSM) for conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave situated in Mawsynram, which is revered by Hindus faithful, the Yatra Committee has filed a writ petition (civil) or WPC in the High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday and its first hearing was held on Wednesday followed by another hearing on Thursday.

Notably, the Yatra Committee filed the WP(C) registered as no. 275 of 2024 against the State of Meghalaya and eight other respondents where S. Jindal, Advocate and B.Jyrwa, Advocate represented the Yatra Committee while  T. Yangi B, Additional Advocate General or AAG and H. Abraham, Government Advocate or GA represented the State of Meghalaya. 

During the hearing, Advocate S Jindal informed 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 and the pilgrimage was permitted by the District Administration from 2011 till 2023. He also said 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.

Jindal informed 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, in spite 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 also said that 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. He also appealed to the Court to issue notice to the District Administration and the private respondents and those appropriate orders be passed thereafter. 

Yangi B appealed that she may be allowed to obtain specific instructions and also submits that since the matter deserves consideration, she may be allowed one day’s time to obtain the same

In the considered view of the High Court, as the matter is sensitive and deserves urgent consideration and in order to resolve the matter, the Court directed the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District to depute a responsible Officer to inform the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram and others to be present in Court on Thursday along with the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District and Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, in person at 2.00pm in the afternoon.