Meghalaya High Court on Friday directed the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) chairman to convene the sitting of the council within one week to take up the motion of no-confidence against the executive committee led by the National People’s Party (NPP) for discussion and voting.

The judgment, delivered by Justice W. Diengdoh, came after three council members belonging to the Opposition — Stevie M. Marak, Boston Marak and Rupert N. Sangma — approached the high court against council chairman Denang T. Sangma for having adjourned the sitting of the GHADC sine die without taking up a no-confidence motion against the executive committee led by Dipul Marak. Both Denang and Dipul belong to the NPP.

It may be mentioned that the GHADC secretary had brought out a revised agenda for November 27, 2019, which contained the following items to be taken up by the House. They include voting of demand for grants, election of deputy chairman of the GHADC, and discussion on motion of no-confidence and voting.

In the election of the deputy chairman held on November 27, 2019, Mettringson Momin from the Opposition secured 15 votes against the 13 votes secured by Augustine R. Marak of the ruling party while one vote was invalid.

“It is the case of the Petitioners that the Chairman of the District Council acting in a highly illegal and arbitrary manner, instead of taking up agenda No. 3 adjourned the session of the House sine die without initiating any discussion and voting on the same and as such, this act was done with a mala fide intention to allow the ruling alliance to remain in power even without enjoying the confidence of the House,” the petitioners pointed out.

The petitioners had also alleged that the action of the chairman in adjourning the House sine die without discussing the motion of no-confidence in the House within 24 hours from the time at which leave was asked for, is a contravention of Rule 71(2) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Rules 1951 (amended) which stipulates that the motion of no-confidence shall be taken up on such day, not being more than two days and not less than 24 hours from the time at which leave is asked for.

Till date, the motion of no-confidence has not been taken up which clearly indicates that the same is politically motivated to enable the chairman to facilitate the illegal continuance of the executive committee which is against the democratic principles, the petitioners alleged.

In his 29-page judgment, Justice Diengdoh asked Denang to convene the sitting of the council within one week from Friday to dispose of the motion of no-confidence, which includes discussion and voting.