SHILLONG: Governor V. Shanmuganathan on Monday approved the by-election schedule as fixed by the State government for seven vacant district council seats.
As per the calendar fixed by the State government, the publication of draft electoral rolls has been fixed for October 10 and the election will be held on December 13. Counting is scheduled for December 16.
An official source said on Monday that the approved file will be sent to the Law Department on Tuesday and subsequently the District Council Affairs Department will officially notify the polls.
Earlier, one Cherubin Thongni had filed a PIL in the High Court of Meghalaya seeking its intervention to hold the polls to the vacant seats in time.
The seven seats, six in KHADC and one in JHADC, fell vacant after the resignation of seven legislators who were holding the posts of MDCs after the amended dual posts Act, 2015, became effective from October 1 last year.
The seven who held the dual posts were H.D.R Lyngdoh (Nongspung- Sohiong), Sanbor Shullai (Laban- Mawprem), Ardent M. Basaiawmoit (Nongkrem), K.P. Pangniang (Rambrai- Jyrngam), Metbah Lyngdoh (Mairang- Nongkhlaw), Brolding Nongsiej (Mawthadraishan) and Stephanson Mukhim (War East constituency of JHADC).
After the PIL was heard several times by the High Court, the State government finally decided on December 13 for holding the by-polls, which, however, was disapproved by the Court through an order on September 1 citing undue delay.
However, the government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court that, on September 9, stayed the High Court order allowing the State government to hold the polls as per the schedule fixed by it.
The government later communicated the matter to the Governor for his nod.