SHILLONG, March 22: In a breather to KHNAM MLA, Adelbert Nongrum, the division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday dropped the contempt proceedings against him in a seven-year-old case after Nongrum apologised to the Court by submitting an affidavit in this regard.
The division bench, in its order, said that the respondent (Nongrum) has filed an affidavit and no further action may be taken on the matter.
The Court reminded the respondent that while it is open to every citizen to indulge in constructive criticism of any system or institution, scurrilous criticism lowers the dignity of the institution and undermines the authority that such institution may otherwise exercise.
Reacting to the HC ruling, Nongrum said he was happy that the case has been closed after 7 years.
He also expressed his gratefulness to the High Court for accepting his apology. “I have full faith in the Constitution of India and its institutions,” the MLA said. It may be mentioned that the High Court had registered a contempt of court against Nongrum, the then CEM of KHADC, for questioning a judgment of the Court against headmen and had termed the ruling as a hidden agenda against the indigenous community. Nongrum had also dared the Court to hold him in contempt and to punish him for the same.