Sikh delegation meets Guv on Sweeper’s Colony issue; calls Cabinet's decision to relocate residents “forceful eviction”

SHILLONG:

A delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) met Meghalaya Governor, Satya Pal Malik, to discuss the Meghalaya Cabinet’s decision to relocate the residents of Sweeper Colony from Them Ïew Mawlong following the recommendations submitted by a High-Level Committee (HLC) headed by the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, on October 14.

“We met Satya Pal Malik and discussed the decision to forcefully evict the residents of Sweeper’s Colony and the order passed by the Meghalaya cabinet to carry out the same within a week,” said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of DSGMC. The Shiromani Akali Dal leader also informed that the Governor has assured them that the residents will not be evicted “forcefully” and a due process of law would be followed.

The delegation also submitted documents, the title of the property and the court order from the Meghalaya High Court to the Governor, he said. “Even if they are illegally occupying the place, the government cannot evict them forcefully. For that purpose, the government has to file a civil suit before the civil magistrate and then the order for eviction can be passed. But this cannot be done forcefully,” Sirsa said.

Sirsa said that the decision to relocate the residents should have been taken in consultation with the residents of Sweeper’s Colony. “Did the government or HLC ever had a discussion with the residents of the Sweeper’s Colony? The government should sit with the residents of the Colony and discuss. A decision on the issue should be taken with mutual understanding or as per the law,” he said.

Sirsa also raised a concern that the government have neither given the residents of Colony a copy of the HLC report nor shared the tripartite agreement which they have made with the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Urban Affairs, and the Shillong Municipal Board.

“If there is any proposal for relocation, they (government) should bring it forth. What is the proposal, where is the proposal? There is no such proposal. They didn’t even call the residents for a meeting,” said Sirsa.

Sirsa informed that the delegation will approach the appropriate court in this regard again and also take up the matter with the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.

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