SHILLONG, AUG 11: The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday quashed the suspension of Ainam Manik Syiem as Syiem of Hima Mylliem and set aside the appointment of Alban Fredrick Syiem as Acting Syiem, saying KHADC acted outside the 2007 Act.
In a common verdict in WP(C) 232 and 233 of 2026, Justice W Diengdoh held that the suspension order of 22.05.2026 and the subsequent notification naming an Acting Syiem were legally untenable.
The bench heard two linked petitions.
Ainam Manik Syiem challenged his suspension, while Deputy Syiem Mansan Manik Syiem contested the appointment of an outsider to the post.On the suspension, the court cited Section 7 of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) Act, 2007.
It provides that a Syiem serves for life and can only be suspended after a complaint is placed before the Durbar Hima and the Syiem is heard.
“Proviso 1 of Section 7 of the Act of 2007, provides that any complaint against the Syiem should first be brought to the knowledge and notice of the Durbar Hima. This not being done, the impugned action of suspension of the petitioner cannot be sustained in law,” the court said.
It rejected KHADC’s claim of inherent power to act suo moto and noted the 1959 Act relied on by the Council had been repealed by Section 26 of the 2007 Act.
“Accordingly, the related impugned notifications, including the suspension order is hereby set aside and quashed,” the court ruled, directing “the respondent KHADC to forthwith reinstate the petitioner/Syiem as the Syiem of Mylliem.”
On the Acting Syiem, the court said Section 8 mandates that the Deputy Syiem be appointed when the Syiem is suspended. Any other appointment requires consultation with the Executive Durbar. KHADC had instead named Alban Fredrick Syiem, citing the Deputy Syiem’s relation to the suspended Syiem as reason.
“This notification on the face of it, is legally flawed, since the premise upon which the respondent No. 4 has been appointed as the Acting Syiem is hit by the provision of Section 8 of the said Act of 2007,” the court observed.
It also flagged that the order was signed by only one Executive Member, in breach of Section 25.
“The appointment of the respondent No. 4 as the Acting Syiem is also hereby set aside and quashed,” it said.
With the suspension quashed, the court said the Deputy Syiem’s plea “no longer subsist” and he “will continue to remain as the Deputy Syiem.”
The court added it did not examine the merits of the complaint against the Syiem, as the suspension and enquiry initiation itself were nullified.
Both petitions were disposed of without costs.
