A Meghalaya court has been informed that all activities related to Shree Cement‘s operations will remain suspended while an independent fact-finding committee reviews the environmental, social, legal, and criminal concerns raised by the Khasi Students’ Union.
Additional Advocate General Tshering Yangi B. submitted an affidavit from Home Political Commissioner and Secretary Rosetta Mary Kurbah before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, which is hearing PIL No. 17 of 2026 filed by Neilkee Mukhim.
The affidavit, filed following the court’s September 1 order, stated that a meeting held on August 26 with KSU representatives—decided on forming an independent committee led by a senior government officer to establish a full picture of the situation. During the panel’s tenure, plant activity will remain suspended. The district administration and Superintendent of Police will prevent any untoward incidents while a team from East Jaintia Hills assists the panel.
Petitioner’s counsel G. Syngkrem filed a separate affidavit dated September 7 containing photographs and a pen drive that alleged lapses by authorities. The court took it on record. The AAG sought time to examine the material.
The court fixed the next hearing for September 29.
Government Accepts KSU Objections to Committee Composition
On Tuesday, after a meeting with Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed and other officials, former KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah confirmed that the government had accepted the union’s objection to any role for the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police on the committee.
Earlier minutes from discussions with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had stated that the two officers would play a “vital role” in the process.
“We highly objected to that,” Thabah said.
The government has now clarified that the DC, SP, and other district officials will not be part of the committee, directly or indirectly. Thabah said the panel has already been constituted and its members’ names will be shared with the KSU within one or two days. The union also requested that earlier discussions with the Chief Minister be properly recorded in the minutes.
MRSSA Implementation and Recruitment Matters
Regarding the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, the government stated that facilitation centres—including those at Umling and Ratacherra—and components of the district task force are expected to be operational by late November or early December. A joint inspection at Umling is scheduled with the KSU North Khasi Hills unit.
The union had opposed online tenant registration without involvement of traditional institutions. The government agreed that Sirdar, Sordar, Rangbah Shnong, Waheh Chnong, and Nokmas should verify antecedents. Facilitation centres will be functional before any facial-recognition application is rolled out.
A workshop to train Labour Department officials on the MRSSA rules is scheduled for Wednesday.
The rules will include TNS linkage and the penalties sought by the KSU: Rs 10,000 for a first offence, Rs 20,000 for a second, and Rs 50,000 thereafter, along with imprisonment.
On recruitment matters, the standard operating procedure is in place and personal interviews for Grade D posts have been abolished. The demand to scrap interviews for non-technical, non-gazetted Grade B and C posts remains under examination, with an update expected within one or two weeks.
NEIGRIHMS and Ongoing Concerns
The KSU continues to oppose constitution of a NEIGRIHMS Governing Council until its demands are met. The institute’s Deputy Director has written to the same effect.
Thabah said the union has observed some movement on the MRSSA and recruitment issues but remains concerned about what it described as selective arrests of its members. Two activists were served notices in the CBI headquarters structure case and later arrested in another matter.
Thabah sought similar action against those accused of obstructing the Shree Cement public hearing.
“Arrests will not stop the campaign,” Thabah warned. The union will wait for the promised details in the coming days before deciding its next step.