‘If Laban circuit house is demolished, no meaning in installing Roy statue’

Shillong, June 23: Malabika Bisharad, the petitioner to protect the Laban Circuit House constructed by Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan Chandra, has petitioned Chief Secretary Shakil Ahamed to ensure that the building, which has historical significance, is not dismantled.

The plea comes after the court order to install a bust and plaque in honour of Dr  Roy..

However, the order is silent on what to do with the building.

Full text of the letter below 

To

Hon’ble Chief Secretary

Government of Meghalaya

Main Secretariat Building

Shillong – 1

As you know that Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya  has given the final order regarding Circuit House or historic “Ray Villah” (not Roy Villah), PIL 13 of 2025. Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy built this house in 1920s when he established Shillong Hydroelectric Company PVT Ltd at Shillong in the same period of time.

It is said in the order that “During the proceedings, the Meghalaya Heritage Authority examined the site and concluded that the Circuit House does not meet the criteria for declaration as a heritage site under the Meghalaya Heritage Regulations, 2013. The building was also found to be in a dilapidated condition. Considering these facts, the Division of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh suggested installing a bust and plaque in honour of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. The PWD(Building) submitted a report confirming that the bust and plaque would be installed in a symmetrical garden setting at Laban Circuit House. Photographs and details of the plan were placed on record.”

In the view of the above mentioned statement, I would like to extend my humble thanks and gratitude to the State Government of Meghalaya for taking the decision to install a Statue of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy and a memorial plaque of at Laban Circuit House.

At the same time, I would like to request you kindly to preserve the concrete building of Circuit House which stands as the symbol of history since 1920s. The place is blessed with the footprints of Bharat Ratna Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and others. The historic house, “Ray Villah” is a symbol of cultural and literature.

In the statement it is said , “the building was also found to be in a dilapidated condition”.

On the above mentioned statement, I would like to inform you that on 17th April 2026, I have visited Circuit House along with Amicus Cuearie Shri Subhasis Chakrawarty. The inspection was carried out from Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya. I was asked to attend during inspection by Shri Subhasis Chakrawarty. The team from High Court of Meghalaya inspected the whole compound of Circuit House. We have taken photographs of the concrete building in front of the garden. We have seen the whole buliding has been renovated in a sophisticated manner. Few materials of the house have been preserved in the drawing room. The backside Assam type rooms were locked. We couldn’t see all the rooms. The condition of those rooms were not known to us. The building was not in a “dilapidated condition”.

I would like to request you kindly to preserve the historic house, “Ray Villah” – the main concrete building which has already been renovated by the State Government of Meghalaya. The rooms of this building are currently being used as the guest rooms. My humble request to you before you take any final decision, kindly do one more inspection.

During inspection we have taken several photographs of the Circuit House or historic “Ray Villah” from different angles. I am sending few photos for your kind information which I have taken in my mobile.

If PWD would demolish the historic house “Ray Villah” and install the Statue of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy along with a memorial plaque, then there will be no significance of the statue. The house is required to be preserved by you all. Then the legacy of the place will be significant.

I wish, you will give value to my humble requests regarding preservation of Circuit House or Ray Villah at Laban, Shillong.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

Smt Malabika Bisharad

(Petitioner of the letter dated 12th November 2025 to Shri Soumen Sen Hon’ble former Chief Justice of Meghalaya)

W/O Shri R Bisharad

Rilbong Zigzag Road

Shillong – 4