Meghalaya High Court Issues Contempt Notice Over Demolition of Heritage School Building

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has issued a contempt notice to the management of Don Bosco Technical School in Shillong for razing down the St. Anthony's Lower Primary School building, said to be an Assam-type colonial structure of great architectural and historical importance. It follows a public interest litigation plea that the building qualified for heritage status.

On January 28, the division bench led by Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh raised grave concern over the demolition, stating that this represented an outright challenge to the authority of the court and constituted criminal contempt. The earlier order was to inspect under the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012, to assess the heritage value of the building.

The management, despite the court's directive, proceeded with the demolition, which compelled the court to take immediate action. The court indicated that although a report had established that the building did not qualify as a heritage site, there were recommendations that it be listed as such on account of its historical context.

The court, regarding the demolition, issued summons to key members of the management of Don Bosco Technical School and summoned them to appear before it on February 24, 2025. Moreover, it issued an interim order that there be no further demolition, construction, or alteration of the school building until further notice, and it also directed local police to strictly enforce the order. The case shall be revisited in February.

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