SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday issued notices to authorities concerned over the non-granting of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin cave in Mawsynram in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills District.
The court has also directed the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner to assign a responsible officer to ensure the respondents appear in court on Thursday.
The order was issued in response to a petition filed by the registered society, Yatra, challenging the denial of a NOC for their annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave, a revered Hindu site.
Hearing the petition, Justice HS Thangkhiew in his order said, “In the considered view of this Court, as the matter is sensitive and deserves urgent consideration and in order to resolve the matter, the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District is directed to depute a responsible Officer to inform the said respondents No. 6, 7, & 8 to be present in Court tomorrow, along with the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, in person at 2.00 pm in the afternoon.”
Counsel for the petitioner S Jindal argued that the annual pilgrimage has been a longstanding event, becoming more structured and organized since the society’s formation in 2011.
Jindal also presented the permissions granted by the district administration from 2011 to 2023 and noted that the necessary NOCs and permissions had always been issued by the Dorbar Shnong.
He further stated that this year, despite obtaining initial permission from the district administration on June 27, 2024, with the condition to secure a NOC from the Dorbar Shnong of Mawsynram, there was no response from the Dorbar.
He clarified that there has been no effort to establish a place of worship, contrary to reports and the only activity has been the sprinkling of water on the lingam over the years, and there is no intention to offend anyone or disrupt the peace of the place.
Jindal urged the Meghalaya High Court to issue notices to the district administration and the private respondents and to pass appropriate orders.
