HC to take up several crucial issues today
SHILLONG: A series of crucial orders pertaining to several issues including dual post, empowerment of headman, Lokayukta, reservation for Niam Khasi will be delivered by the High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday.
Sources said that on the eve of his retirement, Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh will deliver significant judgments.
As far as dual post is concerned, the High Court had asked the Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan to decide on the matter after taking up the issue with the Election Commission of India.
The High Court also wanted the Governor to include all the eight legislators, who were holding the posts of MDC while referring the matter to the Election Commission.
It was learnt that the Election Commission is yet to give its reply to the query of the Governor regarding the dual post held by the legislators.
Though the State Government had made effective the dual post Act from October 1 last year to give protection to those legislators who were holding the posts of MDC , the High Court had said that it was not bound by the Act passed by the State Government.
Advocate VGK Kynta is representing seven legislators in the case except Metbah Lyngdoh.
Kynta is also representing the headmen from Jaintia Hills related to the pending case of empowerment of headmen in Meghalaya passed by the Justice SR Sen.
The High Court will finally decide on the order which striped off the powers of headmen.
On the Lokayukta issue, the state government had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the stay of the High Court on the accommodation of a non-judicial member as the Chairperson of Lokayukta.
The state Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri has filed an affidavit on the minority status of Niam Khasi on the eve of the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
As per the affidavit, since Niam Khasi is considered as ST, there would not be any other reservation for Niam Khasi.