KHADC imbroglio: CEM to wait for Court’s decision

“We will wait for the order of the Court and we are hoping for a positive outcome,” Kharkongor told reporters here on Tuesday.

The CEM had filed a petition before the High Court on December, last year over delay in approving the list of EMs.

The list has Independent MDC from Nongshken Grace Mary Kharpuri as deputy chief executive member. The others include Congress MDCs Ronnie V Lyngdoh and Lamphrang Blah, NPP MDC Mitchel Wankhar and PDF MDC Macdalyn Sawkmie.

According to him, the delay in approving the list of EMs has prevented the KHADC from having a full fledged executive committee.

Asked, Kharkongor referred to a ruling passed by the Guahati High Court and said, “If going by this ruling, the Governor on the advice of the CEM has to approve the list of EMs. However, due to his delay, we have no other option but to knock on the Court’s door.”

Although he denied that the present stalemate has affected the normal functioning of the Council, the CEM however said that the financial matters have been hit as these has to go through a full fledged executive committee as per the financial rules of the Council.

On the delay of the state government to notify his election as the CEM, Kharkongor reiterated that this actually does not require because as per Para 20 (b) “we does not fall under the state government”

“In Meghalaya, we fall under the Sixth Schedule and the Governor does not necessarily requires to take the advice of the Council of Ministers unlike in the states of Mizoram and Assam which are under the Seventh Schedule,” he said.

On the other hand, the United Democrati Alliance (UDA) had recently urged the state government’s intervention into the need to convene a special session of the KHADC to prove which sides has the majority in the House.

The UDA has claimed to have the support of 16 members in the House of 29.

When sought for his comment, Kharkongor said, “I would like to repeat myself that I was elected CEM in the floor of the House, which they (UDA) have failed to attend and also withdraw when the election process has already started. Now all of a sudden they just claimed that I have lost majority but I feel that they should prove this in the floor of the House if they really have the majority then only I will accept.”

The CEM also claimed that he is having the support of 16 members. “I want them to prove because according to me I still have the majority in the House,” he stated.