Shillong, Nov 14: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has filed a petition demanding an immediate halt to what it alleges is an ongoing construction of a religious structure within the premises of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office at Mawdiangdiang, New Shillong Township.

In a petition submitted to the CBI Head of Branch on Friday, the HYC claimed that a structure resembling a temple is being erected inside the CBI compound. The organisation said such construction raises serious concerns regarding violations of constitutional secularism, state building regulations, and the proper use of public premises.

The HYC has urged the CBI to initiate an internal verification to ascertain the facts surrounding the alleged construction.
“Pending such verification, all works related to any proposed or ongoing religious construction should be suspended forthwith to prevent irreversible alteration of the premises or any potential violation of law,” HYC president Roykupar Synrem stated.

The Council also demanded that if the construction is found to have commenced without due approval, the CBI must initiate action under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, and relevant state regulations to remove the structure and restore the compound to a neutral, secular state.

The organisation requested the CBI to issue a formal clarification within two weeks, detailing the factual position, approvals obtained—if any—and the measures taken to uphold constitutional and statutory norms.

Emphasising that the petition does not target any religious community, the HYC said its intention is to safeguard the secular character of a central investigative agency that must remain neutral and free from symbolic affiliations.

“This petition is submitted not in opposition to any faith or community but in defence of the secular essence of public administration,” Synrem said. “The construction of a temple or any religious structure within the CBI compound risks creating a visible association between the Government and one particular faith, which could erode public trust in one of the country’s most sensitive institutions.”

Synrem further noted that any such construction would violate the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021, which mandate prior written permission for land-use changes, as well as the Public Premises Act, which prohibits unauthorized use or alteration of government property.

The petition also cites constitutional provisions and landmark Supreme Court judgments—including S.R. Bommai v. Union of India and Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala—which uphold secularism as a basic feature of the Indian Constitution, binding all state organs to maintain religious neutrality.

The CBI is yet to issue an official clarification on the matter.