SHILLONG, AUG 8: The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday asked the dorbar shnong of Mawsynram to amicably resolve the issue pertaining to the granting of no-objection certificate (NOC) for conducting of the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin cave at Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills District.
Traditional heads of Mawsynram, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of East Khasi Hills were summoned to appear before the court on Thursday afternoon during the hearing on a petition filed by the Yatra, which is a registered society, against the non-granting of the NOC by the authorities concerned for conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave situated in Mawsynram which is revered by Hindus.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, senior advocate VGK Kynta said, “We cannot comment much at this stage as the matter is subjudice but the Court has allowed the dorbar shnong of Mawsynram village to decide on this issue and to resolve the same amicably.”
He said that the court has directed that the next hearing on the matter will be on August 14.
Asked, Kynta said, “The court has asked the dorbar shnong to decide on the matter keeping in mind that the place is a tourist attraction. But the point is we cannot speak much about the deliberation in the court as the matter is subjudice but the dorbar will decide after consulting all stakeholders including Seng Khasi.”
The advocate also maintained that the dorbar shnong and other stakeholders are not against the yatra but are against making the cave as a place of worship.
When asked, he said, “When there is a violation from time to time, the dorbar shnong has got every right to refuse permission because when we lay down some guidelines, some SOPs, some conditions, if that is violated what we have to do, we reject, we refuse.”