By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday expressed its inability to intervene in an internal tussle of the Shella Dorbar Shnong involving the election of an acting secretary following the suspension of former secretary Tobias Tiewdoh recently, while referring to the matter as a ‘court directive’.
“This issue is way out of our hand since the KHADC cannot intervene into the election of a secretary or any member of the Dorbar Shnong except the Rangbah Shnong,” Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the KHADC, Pynshngainlang Syiem, told reporters on Thursday. Syiem said the District Council cannot call off the public meet (dorbar) arranged by the acting Wahadadar of Shella Confederacy, Wanllamphrang Lyngdoh, to elect a new acting secretary which is scheduled to be held on Friday at Shella stating that the permission to hold the said meeting was already granted by the High Court.
It may be mentioned that the Lyngdoh had suspended the Shella Dorbar Shnong secretary Tobias Tiewdoh last month, for allegedly going against the constitution of the Dorbar.
The permission to hold the dorbar was recently rejected by the SDO of Sohra who had also imposed Section 144 CrPC to prevent disruption of law and order following of which the acting Wahadadar had moved the court and subsequently, a court order was issued to the SDO Sohra to provide protection and security on the day of the meeting.
On the other hand, former secretary Tobias Tiewdoh and his supporters arrived at District Council on Thursday with a demand to remove the acting Wahadadar and cancel the dorbar stating that the Acting Wahadadar has been misusing his position and his actions are against the traditional practice of Shella Confederacy.
The agitators numbering to over 50 or more were however prevented from entering the premises of the KHADC by the police.
“The actions of the KHADC clearly indicates that there are some hidden motives which prevented the KHADC to intervene and remove the acting Wahadadar despite the fact that we have apprised the matter to the CEM five times,” Tiewdoh alleged.
Discarding the allegations, the KHADC CEM said, “We have no hidden motives but what is considered here is the majority’s opinion.”
Meanwhile, EM incharge of Elaka Lamphrang Blah said this is the first time that such a case where the KHADC was called to intervene in the matter relating to the suspension and election of a dorbar shnong secretary has appeared.