SHILLONG, Jan 8 - Meghalaya High Court on Thursday allowed CBI to register an FIR and prosecute State Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and seven members of Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for granting permission to 13 persons to construct �illegal� high-rise buildings in the State.
Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh also directed CBI to prosecute the high-rise building owners, including an independent MLA supporting ruling Congress.
Disposing of a petition filed by four advocates, the HC granted liberty to CBI to register the case at its headquarters in Delhi and to seek liberty from the Supreme Court, if so advised, to prosecute the accused in a Delhi Court so that the trial could reach the logical conclusion within time and to the satisfaction of the litigants.
Stating that Shillong falls under Seismic Zone 5, the highest risk earthquake zone, the Chief Justice said granting permission to construct highrise buildings in violation of laws have to be dealt with firmly. The order came in the wake of the Supreme Court declining to stay the order of the High Court.
Earlier, the HC had held that all constructions beyond G+3 are illegal and the role of CBI was limited only to finding out officers responsible for granting permission for making the illegal constructions and who are the beneficiaries of such orders. � PTI
