The Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya v. State of Meghalaya

HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG

PIL No.13/2025 Date of order: 17.06.2026

Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya ..... Petitioner

Vs.

State of Meghalaya, represented by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Meghalaya, Shillong. ..... Respondent

Coram:

Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Revati Mohite Dere, Chief Justice

Hon'ble Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge For the Petitioner : Mr. S. Chakrawarty, Amicus Curiae with

Mr. E. Laloo, Adv

For the Respondents : Mr. A. Kumar, Advocate General with

Mr. K. Khan, AAG

Mr. A.H. Kharwanlang, Addl.Sr.GA

Mr. J.N. Rynjah, GA

i) Whether approved for reporting in

Law journals etc.:

ii) Whether approved for publication in press:

JUDGMENT: (per the Hon'ble, the Chief Justice): (Oral)

The aforesaid PIL was registered pursuant to a letter dated 12th November, 2025 received from one Smti. Malabika Bisharad wherein, expressing her concern regarding the proposed demolition of the Circuit House/Bidhan Bhavan, situated at Kenches Trace, Laban, Shillong. Serial No.04 Daily List

¶2In the said letter, Smti. Bisharad has expressed concern over the reported proposal for demolition of the said building, which according to her, was a heritage structure of significant historical value. It is further stated in the letter, that the building also known as 'Bidhan Bhavan or 'Roy Villa' was constructed by Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second Chief Minister of West Bengal in the early 1920s and that several eminent personalities, including Nobel laureate, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose had visited and stayed in the said Circuit House/Bidhan Bhavan. It is further stated in the letter, that Bidhan Bhavan holds immense cultural and historical importance and may be protected and preserved under the provisions of the Meghalaya Heritage Act or other applicable heritage laws and, that demolition of the same be prevented, so as to safeguard the site as part of the State's heritage.

¶3Pursuant thereto, several orders came to be passed from time to time. Vide order dated 4th December, 2025, this Court directed the Heritage Committee to examine the heritage status of the building in question, having historical importance.

¶4During the course of the hearing, Mr. Chakrawarty, learned Amicus submitted that the property in question has historical significance, as Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was residing in the said property. In the affidavit filed by the learned Amicus, he has highlighted the contribution of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy and the historical significance of the said property, which is sought to be declared as a heritage property.

¶5Learned Advocate General had filed an affidavit of Shri Prafulla Kumar Boro, Director to the Government of Meghalaya Urban Affairs Department and Member Secretary to the Meghalaya Heritage Authority dated 25th February, 2026. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the said affidavit read thus;

"5. That it is stated that, the Governor of Meghalaya vide notification No.UAU.129/2007/Pt.I/36 dated 17.02.2015 was pleased to notify the formation of a sub-committee for heritage sites/buildings for each district, which will comprise of the Deputy Commissioner as the Chairman, the District Urban Planner as the Member Secretary and other technical members from other departments of the State Government along with expert representatives from the Meghalaya Architect's Forum and INTACH.

¶6That it is submitted that, pursuant to the directions of this Hon'ble High Court, the Meghalaya Heritage Authority

held a meeting on 23.02.2026, whereafter, detailed discussion and deliberation, it was unanimously agreed that Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan) Shillong satisfies the criteria for listing of heritage sites under Regulation 6 of the Meghalaya Heritage Regulations, 2013 and the Authority has resolved to declare Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), Shillong as a Heritage Building under the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012.

Furthermore, it is brought to the notice of this Hon'ble Court that the Authority has upon consideration of the report of the sub-committee on the Heritage Status of the Laban Circuit House (Bidhan Bhavan) and after detailed discussion and deliberation, the authority has concluded that the Laban Circuit House does not meet the criteria for listing as a heritage site under Regulation 6 of the Meghalaya Heritage Regulations, 2013, although it is brought to the notice of this Hon'ble Court that the Authority has recommended commemorative measures such as installation of a plaque to record its historical associations."

¶6During the course of hearing, since the property in question was dilapidated and not in a good condition, and as such, could not be considered as a heritage structure, we suggested to the learned Advocate General, as to whether a bust of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy and a plaque could be installed in the said premises in the honour of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

¶7Today, Mr. Kumar, learned Advocate General has tendered a report of the Public Works Department (Building), Shillong. The

said report is taken on record and marked 'X' for identification. It is stated in the said report that in the premises in question, the PWD (Building) would be installing the bust and plaque of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy in the symmetrical garden setting at Laban Circuit House at Laban, Shillong. The details have been mentioned and the photographs with citation has been annexed.

¶8In view of the aforesaid, since steps have taken by the State of Meghalaya as stated aforesaid, which we truly appreciate, nothing survives for further consideration in this PIL.

¶9We would like to record our appreciation for the efforts taken and the time spent by Mr. Chakrawarty, the learned Amicus in this matter, which has resulted in the installation of a bust and plaque of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, by the PWD.

¶10The PIL stands disposed of accordingly.

(W. Diengdoh) (Revati Mohite Dere)

Judge Chief Justice Meghalaya

17.06.2026 "Lam DR-PS" Date: 2026.06.18 17:30:10 IST