Meghalaya

The Meghalaya High Court has ordered immediate action against numerous unlicensed street vendors operating in Shillong's Laitumkhrah area, directing the Municipal Board to conduct a comprehensive survey and prevent new vendors from setting up shop. The directive came during a hearing on August 29, when Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh reviewed a damning report from the Shillong Municipal Board revealing widespread illegal vending activities. The Municipal Board's report painted a troubling picture of regulatory oversight in the area. Of 122 identified vendors, none possessed valid vending certificates or licenses. The Board classified only 22 as "eligible under the provisions of the scheme," though even these vendors lacked proper documentation. The situation becomes more c...

The tranquil waters of Umiam Lake turned into a vibrant hub of sporting activity on Friday as the Meghalaya Sailing Club launched a special three-day campaign to mark National Sports Day. The event, which began on August 29, brought together young students, seasoned sailors, and adventure enthusiasts with the shared goal of promoting sports, fitness, and the joy of sailing. With 65 participants joining on the opening day, the campaign reflects the growing popularity of water sports in the state and its potential to inspire a new generation of athletes. Under the national initiative “Every State, Every Lake”, the programme seeks to take sailing beyond coastal regions and introduce it to inland water bodies like Umiam, thereby making it more accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. ...

26-year-old youth from Mawlai Nongkwar Block-1, Shillong, was found dead in a railway station toilet in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, shortly after securing a job in the hospitality sector. The deceased, identified as Jonathan Rynjah, had travelled to Kerala in search of work and was discovered on Friday, leaving his family devastated. His parents were informed of the tragedy by the Kerala police but now face the difficult challenge of bringing their son's body home due to financial constraints. The family has appealed to authorities and the state government for urgent support in repatriating the remains. Jonathan's father, Rakesh Shabong, said communication barriers with the Kerala police had left the family uncertain about the exact circumstances of their son's death. He recalled that ...

The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday issued several directions to the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) on the presence of hawkers in Laitumkhrah, while pointing out that its report on the hawkers in the area does not project a good picture at all. A registered society named Seng Samla Laitumkhrah "leng Skhem Ha Ka Hok" had submitted an application, seeking the extension of the action on the street hawkers of Police Bazar to the Laitumkhrah area. The court took cognisance of the application and directed the SMB to file a report on the number of street vending licenses issued in the Laitumkhrah area, with the names of the licensees. Accordingly, the SMB filed a report to the court. "The facts which emerge from this report do not project a good picture at all. It appears that there is a...

The Meghalaya government has unveiled a new financial assistance programme aimed at solving chronic traffic congestion in Shillong by incentivising private parking infrastructure development. The Grant-in-Aid Scheme for Off-Street Parking, announced on August 29 by the Urban Affairs Department, offers substantial capital grants to private landowners, community organisations, and cooperatives willing to build commercial parking facilities. The initiative forms part of the state's comprehensive Meghalaya Parking Policy for Urban Areas, 2025. Shillong faces mounting traffic challenges as private vehicle ownership surges while unregulated street-side parking clogs already narrow roads. The new scheme targets this problem by encouraging organized off-street parking solutions that will free ...

The opposition Congress on August 28 filed a fresh petition before Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma seeking the disqualification of four of its legislators who recently defected to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). The petition, submitted by MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar to Assembly commissioner and secretary Andrew Simons, argued that the defections did not fulfil the two-thirds majority clause required under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. It was filed under Rule 6 of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988. Congress MLAs Ronnie V Lyngdoh (Mylliem), Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), Charles Marngar (Mawhati), and Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin) joined the NPP between July and August 2024. The Speaker later recognised...

The opposition Congress on Thursday filed a fresh petition before Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, seeking the disqualification of four of its legislators who recently defected to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP). The move comes amid ongoing political shifts in the state, highlighting tensions over party defections and constitutional provisions. The petition, submitted by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) secretary Manuel Badwar to Assembly commissioner and secretary Andrew Simons, argued that the defections did not meet the two-thirds majority clause required under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. It was filed under Rule 6 of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988. The MLAs involved—Ronnie V. Lyngdo...

More than 3,300 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) schools across the state have formally expressed their willingness to come under direct government management. The Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA) on Wednesday confirmed that applications from thousands of schools have already reached the state education department, marking a crucial step towards restructuring the management of elementary education in the state. According to MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai, of the total applications received, 3,034 schools are presently run by local communities, while 298 schools are managed by religious bodies or private organisations. The latter group has already provided No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the education department, signaling their readiness to hand over full management responsibi...

Tension flared once again along the Assam–Meghalaya border after a group of Meghalaya supporters allegedly disrupted road repair work undertaken by the Assam Government in Upper Lampi, under Boko–Chaygaon Co-District, on Thursday, August 28. According to sources, labourers and construction materials had been mobilized to install a culvert aimed at protecting the only road that connects Boko to Upper Lampi. However, a section of Khasi residents, backed by Meghalaya supporters, reportedly stopped the workers and sent them away. The 40-km stretch of road, built around five years ago by the Assam Government, continues to be a point of contention as locals from Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district claim ownership of the area. One of the labourers, Gopal Sharma, alleged that Meghalaya Polic...

The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Wednesday defended its demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state, rejecting criticism that the move was a divisive agenda. The party maintained that the Garo and Khasi-Jaintia communities were distinct in terms of language, culture, tradition, and customs, and that conflicts of interest often arose, particularly in matters related to employment. HSPDP president KP Pangniang, when asked about criticisms that the demand was an attempt to divide the state, said such an allegation was "totally wrong." He stated that the party has been pursuing the demand since 1987 and that it was a constitutional right. According to him, the issue was neither new nor unconstitutional, but a legitimate aspiration backed by provisions of the Constitution o...