Shillong, June 12: The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to consider afresh the shifting of community and rural development block to Lumshnong village in East Jaintia Hills District and take a decision within a period of six weeks.

The order was passed by the division bench of the High Court on June 6, while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a resident of the district Damewanhii Rymbai against the government’s notification on January 9 that shifted the block from Wapung village to Lumshnong village.

“This petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to pursue the matter so that the chief minister’s secretariat after considering the entire gamut of the matter afresh vis-à-vis revoking or otherwise of the notification dated January 9 providing for shifting of the block headquarter to Lumshnong. After due consideration, decision shall be taken within a period of six weeks…” the bench said.

The Dorbar Shnong of Wapung village had executed a gift deed on April 21, 2017 in favour of the state government donating a plot of land measuring 2.6 acres at Wapung Shnong and another plot of land measuring 10,127 sq.m at Madan Satrang, Wapung Skur for the purpose of construction and setting up the office of Wapung Community and Rural Development Block.

In the petition, Rymbai said that the Minister in-charge C&RD Sniawbhalang Dhar had inaugurated the block development office at Wapung Skur in presence of the villagers and the representative of district administration.

Over a period of four years beginning from the year 2014 after completing survey, the block was established at Wapung but surprisingly the government issued a notification on January 9 conveying that the Governor has approved shifting of the same to Lumshnong much to the annoyance of the residents of Wapung, he said.