HC directs Chief Secretary to be present

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 4: The Meghalaya High Court has taken serious note of the non-compliance of its last order which had directed to show cause as to why the Central Government not be told to hold inquiry into the allegation that the minority tribes in Meghalaya are being deprived of their entitlements. During the hearing on Monday, the state government informed the High Court that though its order has been forwarded to the Ministry concerned but till date no instruction has been received.

“Thus, we take a serious view of the matter and direct the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya and the Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India to remain present in Court for assistance,” a division bench of the High Court said.

The next hearing into the case has been listed for January 13 before the Full Bench.

The High Court was hearing on a writ petition which stated that the minority tribes in the State of Meghalaya like the “ñiam Khasi and ñiam Tre” are being deprived of their fundamental rights and human rights.

It may be mentioned that during the last hearing on December 15, 2015, the Meghalaya High Court had directed that during the pendency of this petition, all the pending representations filed by all or any of such minority tribes whether it is Niam Khasi in Khasi Hills or Niam Tre in Jaintia, or Sansarik, Koch, Hajong and Rabha in Garo Hills, shall be disposed of by the respondents on merit with reasoned orders and the State Government shall ensure that there is no deprivation or denial of their entitlements on the grounds of caste, creed, religion, tribe and clan and nor is there any allurement/inducement or pressure causing any interference with their culture and religious faith or any other fundamental and human rights.

In the writ petition the petitioners said that those belonging to ñiam Khasi and ñiam Tre tribes which are in minority in the State and the minority tribes in Meghalaya are being deprived of their fundamental rights and human rights, particularly the ones as guaranteed under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioners stated that as a result, they are not provided any benefits, which they claim to be entitled to, under the tiol Commission for Minorities, Act, 1992, and tiol Commission for Minority Educatiol Institutions Act, 2004, apart from similar other benefits available under various other Central and State Government Minority Welfare Schemes.