Cut Trees Only If So Dangerously Placed That Damage Becomes Imminent: Meghalaya HC Issues Directions For Felling Trees In A Shillong Colony

The Meghalaya High Court recently directed the State Authorities to instruct each and every applicant who has filed applications under Meghalaya Tree Preservation Rules, 1976, for felling of trees in the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah, to explain the details how these trees 'have become dangerous to life and property'.The division bench comprising the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and...

“Little Or No Progress Made”: Meghalaya HC Displeased With State Over Delay In Resolving Crematoria Facility For Indigenous Communities

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday (March 4) expressed its displeasure regarding the progress made by the State Government in a PIL concerning setting up of crematoria to cremate the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu persons.“Their rights and rituals accompanying the funeral are different but the procedure for disposing of the dead body is the same, by cremation. The indigenous Khasi...

Ramsar Convention: Meghalaya High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL To Ensure Maintenance Of Wetlands In State

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (February 27) registered a suo moto PIL to ensure that the Ramsar Convention wetland sites within the State are properly maintained and ensured. The said PIL was registered in pursuance of Supreme Court's direction requesting all High Courts to ensure that the RAMSAR Sites within their jurisdiction are properly maintained. To summarise, the wetlands, if...

Meghalaya High Court Directs Don Bosco School To Rebuild Potential Heritage Building Which It Demolished

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday (February 24) allowed the management of the St. Anthony's Lower Primary School, Shillong run by the missionaries of the Salesians of Don Bosco, to rebuild the demolished building of the school with the condition that the plan and architecture of the building should be more or similar to the demolished one.The bench comprising the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji...

Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Conduct Inquiry Into Alleged Illegal Limestone Mining In Jaintia Hills

In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition alleging illegal limestone mining in the Jaintia Hills by a cement company, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the State Government to treat the petition as an informal complaint and conduct an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining. A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh admitted the PIL stating it to be of...

Meghalaya HC Quashes FIR, Chargesheet Against Ex-DGP Accused Of Misusing Official Vehicle Registration Number

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday quashed a 2024 FIR and charge sheet filed against the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Meghalaya, Dr Lajja Ram Bishnoi, in connection with a case related to the alleged misuse and tampering of his official vehicle's registration number. In its five-page order, a bench of Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee noted that the petitioner had the...

Meghalaya High Court Sets Aside Trial Court's Maintenance Order Due To Non-Disclosure Of Assets By Parties, Directs Reconsideration

The Meghalaya High Court recently set aside a maintenance order passed by a Trial Court under Section 125 of CrPC on the ground that no affidavit of disclosure of assets and liabilities were filed by both parties. The single judge bench of Justice B. Bhattacharjee observed: “Since, it is not disputed in the present case that the impugned order dated 16-02-2024 was passed...

Meghalaya High Court Asks Shillong Municipal Board To Construct Shelter For Stray Dogs In 30 Days

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday (February 10) directed the Shillong Municipal Board to ensure as far as possible that the construction of dog shelter home is completed within 30 days and the street dogs are provided shelter there. The division bench of the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh passed the direction while hearing a PIL involving issues with regard to relocation...

Meghalaya High Court Questions Illegal Tree Felling By State In East Khasi Hills, Orders Replantation To Restore Ecology

The Meghalaya High Court questioned the illegal felling of trees in East Khasi Hills District, finding that no evidence was produced by the State compelling the cutting of trees in due process of law.Reinforcing the environmental accountability and the importance of preserving the State's green cover, the court directed the State government to take steps to plant trees more or less of the...

Meghalaya High Court Issues Contempt Notice To Don Bosco School Officials For Demolishing Potential Heritage Building

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday (January 28) issued contempt notice to the Don Bosco Technical School Shillong Management for demolishing the building of St. Anthony's Lower Primary School, allegedly an Assam-type colonial structure of significant architectural and historical value and which was fit to be declared as a heritage building. The division bench comprising the Chief Justice...

Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Conclude Land Acquisition Process For Expansion Of Shillong Airport, Runways

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday (December 16) directed the Meghalaya Government to take all steps so that the requisite area of land is acquired and handed over to the Airports Authority of India, preferably within three months, for extension of the runway and overall expansion of Shillong Airport. The division bench comprising the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh...

Truck Overloading: Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Conduct 2-Hour 'Incognito' Inspections On Weighbridges During Peak Traffic

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning State Government's inaction and mismanagement in operation of 28 weighbridges across the state, the Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (December 5) directed two-hour incognito checks on these bridges during peak vehicular traffic. A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, at the outset however said that...