Traditional chiefs, pressure groups file petition against JHADC delimitation

SHILLONG: While the State Cabinet has given the nod to recommend the Delimitation Bill of the Jaintia Hills District Autonomous Council (JHADC) to the Governor, over hundred traditional chiefs along with pressure groups filed a writ petition with the Meghalaya High Court against the proposed delimitation on Tuesday.
The village chiefs and the pressure groups argued that the delimitation was being done by JHADC on political considerations to suit the whims and fancies of those in “political majority”. They added that the whole process of delimitation of the constituencies for the election to the JHADC has been usurped by a collected few.
The Executive Committee of the JHADC, as per direction of the DCA, had on September 30, constituted the Delimitation Committee consisting of four members – a chairman, two members and one member secretary.
Referring to the hearing of the Delimitation Committee, the petition said that the dissenting voices of the public was subdued during the hearing conducted on October 23 and 24 last thus making the whole process a farce.
It is learnt that the writ petition has been admitted by the High Court and will be heard on January 14.