SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chairman, Pynshngain N Syiem has questioned the decision of the state government and Governor Tathagata Roy to fix the date for the election of new Chairman and Chief Executive Member (CEM) when these posts are yet to fall vacant.
The United Democratic Forum (UDF) has also decided to challenge the order of the governor for holding election to the posts of CEM and Chairman. Speaking to media persons on Saturday, a day after governor revoked administrator’s rule in KHADC, Syiem asserted that Latiplang Kharkongor is still the CEM since he has neither resigned nor was removed.
“The term of the present House has also not ended,” he said.
Maintaining that he is still the chairman since he is yet to vacate the post by way of resigning or completion of the tenure of the present House, he added that the chairman can be removed only by way of a resolution as per district council rules.
Questioning the decision of the government to revoke the administrator’s rule when the matter is still pending with the court, he said that the decision to revoke the administrator’s rule only proves that the government’s decision was wrong.
“It also proves that Kharkongor was right to file the petition in the high court to challenge the decision of invoking administrator’s rule in the council,” Syiem said.
Referring to the petition filed by Kharkongor in the court, Syiem said that both he and Kharkongor should be allowed to continue since the government has now revoked the administrator’s rule.
According to KHADC chairman, the governor does not have the discretion to go against the elected bodies.
“We are not hungry for power. We are concerned about the autonomy of the council,” Syiem said.
When asked if he would approach the court to seek legal remedy against the decision of the government, Syiem said that he will wait to see the outcome of the petition of Kharkongor since the hearing has been fixed on March 18.
Earlier on Friday, following the revocation of administrator’s rule in KHADC, a two-day special session from March 17 has been convened to elect the new chairman and chief executive member of the Council.
