Six lawyers have moved a PIL in the High Court of Meghalaya against the entry-exit point at Umling set up by the MDA government based on Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2016.

The PIL moved by the advocates from the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association, in their individual capacity, on December 22 may come up for hearing in February since the court is currently on vacation.

“The PIL was registered but it is yet to be listed”, said one of the petitioners.

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The PIL cited violation and infringement of fundamental rights and other legal rights of the public as a whole guaranteed under part III of the Indian Constitution specially mentioned in Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21.

These Articles relate to protection of life, personal liberty and right of freedom.

The PIL also termed the MRSSA 2016 as illegal especially the sections from 5 to 20 having been made in absence of any power provided in the Constitution of India and also being arbitrary and discriminatory violating the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Another point in the PIL is that the state used unbridled power in enacting MRSSA 2016 and in establishing a check gate/facilitation centre at Umling under section 17 of the Act.

The PIL pointed out illegal attempts to deprive Indian citizens with their fundamental rights to move freely throughout the territory of India and to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.

The PIL also speaks about the failure of the state government to maintain law and order and highhandedness of various NGOs in the state and to generate employment for the educated youths and further trying to close down the limited available opportunity by the implementation of MRSSA 2016.

It said the state and NGOs worked for hand in glove to bring MRSSA 2016 on being failed to achieve implementation of ILP and added that unemployment and fewer avenues will increase through the implementation of MRSSA 2016 which will further push the people into extreme poverty.

Besides, the PIL said that tourism will be severely impacted and all people engaged directly or indirectly with the business of hotels, restaurants, malls, guest houses, rent houses, small shops, vegetable vendors and taxi drivers will become workless which will lead to the destruction of each household.