GUWAHATI, Nov 8 - A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Arup Kumar Goswami today directed the State Government and State Election Commission to complete the election of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council by February 15, 2019. The High Court order came in the wake of hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) (No 36/2018) filed by former MLA and former Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council Samarjit Haflongbar.
Haflongbar said in his PIL that the term of the Council had expired on June 3, 2018 but the State Government by a notification dated May 31, 2018 extended the term of the Council for six months on the ground that most of the officers and staff of NC Hills are engaged in NRC updating work. Haflongbar challenged the notification that extended the term of the Autonomous Council and pleaded for a Court direction for holding elections to the council.
The court, after hearing the PIL, directed the State respondents and also the State Election Commission to complete the process of election to the NC Hills Autonomous Council by February 15, 2019 and accordingly disposed of the PIL.
BD Das, Senior Advocate and Desrindao Thaosen, Advocate appeared for the petitioner, while D Saikia, Senior Additional Advocate General appeared for the State of Assam.
