The new committee of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, which was supposed to take charge on Sunday, could not do so because of the lockdown imposed to thwart coronavirus.

The Sabha’s outgoing general secretary, Padum Rajkhowa, told The Telegraph that the outgoing committee will need at least two weeks to wrap up all financial and other work before handing over charge to the new committee.

“All work has come to a standstill. The employees of the Sabha are indoors. We hope work will resume as soon,” Rajkhowa said.

The committee of the Sabha will be led by its president, Kuladhar Saikia, also former director-general of Assam police. The results to the elections were announced in the first week of January this year. However, the Sabha has a tradition of handing over charge to the new committee at the beginning of a financial year.

Rajkhowa said though the new committee could not take charge they have requested it to carry on duties.

He said the new committee needs to sit with the 10 secretaries of Sabha’s 10 offices in different parts of the state. “The meeting was supposed to be held on March 18. During the meeting the executive body of the Sabha is formed.”

“After the lockdown the first thing the new committee will have to do is to hold a meeting to form the executive body. Besides, the old committee will take at least two weeks to wrap up its remaining work before handing over charge to the new committee,” he said.