Court defers JHADC hearing
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court has deferred the hearing on the fresh petition filed by the NCP against the continuation of Administrator’s Rule in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) for next Monday.
The writ petition that appeared for hearing before Chief Justice Madan Bhimarao Lokur on Wednesday was inconclusive. He deferred the hearing at a time when the counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner was still going on with his arguments.
The NCP had earlier filed a writ petition challenging the imposition of Administrator’s Rule in GHADC since April 1 this year.
However, on September 8, the State Cabinet extended suspended animation in GHADC for another six months following which the NCP withdrew its earlier writ petition and filed a fresh one about two weeks ago that challenged the extension.
The opposition NCP also questioned why the party in the majority should not be invited to form the new Executive Committee. It claimed a majority in the 29-member Council with 18 MDCs.
On September 20, the party petitioned Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the delay of the Congress-led MUA government to lift Administrator’s Rule in GHADC despite it having the majority.
In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the NCP stated the delay in the formation of the Executive Committee in GHADC was a gross violation of the democratic rights of the people as well as complete misuse of power by the Congress-led government in the State.
The State Government took the decision to extend Administrator’s Rule “due to financial irregularities” in the Council. It also instituted an inquiry commission to probe the “financial irregularities” in the Council, drawing criticism from the NCP.
The Government said financial anomalies in the Council should be probed before formation of the next EC.
Source: The Shillong Times
