KAAC chairman's post; HC stays govt's order on polls

GUWAHATI, March 16: The Gauhati High Court today stayed the operation of the Assam Government's order for holding election to the post of Chairman of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) slated for March 19. The Assam Government, in view of the 'allegations of corruption' against the executive committee of the Autonomous Council headed by Mojari Hanse and allegations of 'irregularities' on counting of votes on the no-confidence motion against the executive committee on February 8, directed the Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner yesterday to hold the election to the post of Autonomous Council Chairman by March 19 and to the posts of other executive members of the council within the next couple of days. While staying the operation of the Assam Government order, the court of Justice H K Sema also directed the posting of the petition filed by D U Maslai and Sarsing Timung, who challenged the Governor's notification, on March 21 for further orders. The court also directed the Advocate General of Assam to produce the records concerning the issuance of yesterday's notification, before the court. The petitioners who are elected members of the Autonomous Council and owe their allegiance to the group in power in the Autonomous Council, challenged the Assam Government's notification on the ground that the direction issued for holding of election to the office of the Chairman was contrary to the provisions of the Rules and also was beyond the powers of the Deputy Commissioner. Being prima facie satisfied with the arguments advanced and, particularly, on the short time given for holding the election without any intervening period, Justice Sema, after hearing D K Mishra, Senior Advocate representing the petitioners, and P G Baruah and A K Phukan, Senior Counsels representing the Assam Government and the rival political group respectively, and also Hrishikesh Roy, who appeared on behalf of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, directed that in view of the urgency of the matter the case would be expeditiously heard on March 21 when the Government's records would be produced by the Advocate General of Assam.