Election of Syiem of Hima Bhowal Syiemship
SHILLONG: The Congress-led opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has opposed the introduction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Nomination and Election of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Myntri, Basan and Rangbah Shnong of Bhowal Syiemship) First Amendment Bill, 2014, on the pretext that the matter is sub judice.
While opposing the introduction of the bill on the first day of the re-assembled budget session, Opposition leader Pynshngain N Syiem (Congress) reminded that the matter was pending adjudication of the High Court.
”Allowing the bill to be introduced in the House is tantamount to contempt of court,” Syiem said.
KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit argued that the EC has formulated this bill exercising its Legislative powers. “The High Court had issued the stay order in relation to the ordinance issued by the Executive Committee for holding of an election for appointment of a full-fledged Syiem of Hima Bhowal,” Basaiawmoit said, while informing the House that the Council has already appealed before the court against this ruling.
According to him, the EC had issued the ordinance since it was totally unjustified to allow a person to hold the post of an acting Syiem for more than seven years.
“We had plans to hold the election in the best interest of the people of the Hima,” the KHADC CEM added.
In response to these arguments, KHADC Chairman Teilinia Thangkhiew said that the Legislative department would examine whether tabling the bill had any binding with the court ruling.
“The matter would be brought for discussion in the House on June 26,” Thangkhiew said.
Earlier, the court has issued a stay order on the decision of the KHADC to forcefully remove Kynsai N Syiem as the Acting Syiem of the Hima Bhowal Syiemship.