SHILLONG : The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council’s challenge against the reinstatement of Hima Mylliem Syiem Ainam Manik Syiem has hit a fresh hurdle after the Meghalaya High Court said no Division Bench was available to hear the appeals.
The dispute returned to the Meghalya High Court on August 17, but the KHADC’s challenge could not proceed after judges who had earlier dealt with the parties were unavailable to hear the appeals.
Four writ appeals have been filed against Justice Wanlura Diengdoh’s August 11 ruling that set aside the KHADC’s action against Ainam Manik Syiem and restored him as Syiem of Hima Mylliem.
The appeals were listed before Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee. Justice Bhattacharjee did not take up the matter after pointing out that he had previously appeared for one of the parties.
Justice H.S. Thangkhiew had already recused himself from proceedings involving the same parties. With those two judges unavailable, the High Court said it could not form a Division Bench to hear the appeals.
The court therefore left the appellants to take the necessary legal steps. The KHADC can now consider approaching the Supreme Court, including seeking transfer of the appeals to the Gauhati High Court, or challenging the August 11 ruling before the apex court.
The dispute began with the KHADC’s May 22 decision to suspend Ainam Manik Syiem under the 2007 law governing the appointment and succession of Syiems and appoint Alban Fedrick Syiem as Acting Syiem.
Ainam Manik Syiem challenged the Council’s action before the High Court. Justice Diengdoh subsequently quashed the suspension and also set aside Alban Fedrick Syiem’s appointment as Acting Syiem.
The KHADC and Alban Fedrick Syiem then moved the appellate side through four connected writ appeals and accompanying applications.
Following the August 11 ruling, the Council reinstated Ainam Manik Syiem on August 14 while keeping the reinstatement subject to the outcome of its appeal. The dispute over the suspension had involved allegations concerning unpaid statutory dues linked to Hima Mylliem, with the KHADC citing substantial outstanding amounts.
