Shillong (Meghalaya), July 1: The Meghalaya High Court has taken up a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the welfare of linguistic minorities in the state and directed the Centre and State to take action on a 2016 report by the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh heard the petition filed by a registered society of individuals belonging to the linguistic minority of the state. The petitioner’s counsel, Senior Advocate Mr. K. Paul, along with Advocate Mr. S. Chanda, submitted that the Meghalaya government should immediately constitute a Board for linguistic welfare in terms of the report.
The court directed the learned counsel for the Union of India and the State, Mr. K. Khan, Additional Advocate General, along with Mr. A.H. Kharwanlang, Addl. Sr. GA, Mr. A.H. Hazarika, GA, and Ms. S. Laloo, GA, to take suitable instructions on the status of the report and report back to the court before the next hearing. The matter will be heard again on July 10.
The court’s direction highlights the need for the Centre and State to take action on the report and ensure the welfare of linguistic minorities in Meghalaya.
