Shillong Mar 16: The Meghalaya High Court has stayed election to the post of chairman and chief executive member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) after hearing a petition on Monday.

Pynshngaiñlang N. Syiem who is still the chairman of the Council filed the petition in the Meghalaya High Court challenging the decision of the Meghalaya government to conduct fresh election for the post of Chairman and CEM in the KHADC.

At present, Latiplang Kharkongor is the CEM of the KHADC.

On March 13, the state government issued two separate notifications for holding elections to the post of KHADC chairman and CEM after the Governor’s Rule was lifted from the Council.

However Syiem said that the elections cannot be held since both persons holding the posts were elected by members of the Council and not appointed by the Governor.

“In the above circumstances, I defer hearing of the petition till Thursday i.e. 19-03-2020. Till returnable date, the effect of operation and/or execution of the impugned notification No. DCA.13/2019/117 and impugned notification No. DC/L/VI/1/2019-20/168/305 both dated 13-03-2020 shall remain stayed,” an order of the Meghalaya High Court said on Monday after hearing the petition filed by Syiem.

Earlier the Governor’s Rule was imposed in the KHADC on February 7, after which Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy appointed East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner as the ‘administrator.’

On March 13, the Governor’s Rule in KHADC was lifted by the state government, and the date for an election of the chairman was fixed March 17 at 10 am, and the election of the CEM on March 18 at 11 am.