Shillong HC: Contempt if ‘unlawful’ bandh calls reported

“In case of violation of this order, the court may not only proceed under the Contempt of Courts Act, but it is also directed that the state government shall register criminal cases under appropriate provisions of the law,” it said.

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The order comes in the wake of a request made by Meghalaya DGP Rajiv Mehta, who asked the high court to restrain the media from publishing statements issued by outfits like the HNLC which may “disturb the even tempo of public life”.

“We are also informed that the statements issued by the outfit HNLC banned by the tribunal as an unlawful assembly are given undue publicity and coverage, both in print and electronic media, which creates fear in the mind of common citizens,” the court said.

“Shri Mehta, DGP thus makes a request to restrain the media from publishing any such statements issued by/ or in the name of this organisation, HNLC, or any other organisation which may have the effect of disturbing the even tempo of public life in the State of Meghalaya having a long international border with Bangladesh,” it said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh and Judges Nanda Kumar Singh and S R Sen took up as writ petition an office note put up by the registrar general of the court on the impact of a bandh called on Monday and Tuesday by the HNLC on the attendance of court staff and on essential services including hospitals and medicine shops.

Asking the administration and police to take steps to ensure that normal life was not affected during such bandh calls, the high court also asked the authorities to issue showcause notices to shops, business establishments, hotels, medical shops and taxis which remain shut during such bandhs.