Shillong, Jan 28: Nongshken MDC, Grace Mary Kharpuri said that she respected the ruling of the Meghalaya High Court that cleared her name to become the Deputy Chief Executive Member (Dy CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), even as she maintained that an Executive Committee (EC) which is in minority cannot run the Council.

KHADC chief executive member (CEM) Latiplang Kharkongor had sent Kharpuri’s name to the Govenror for his approval in November last year to become the Dy CEM of the KHADC and another list of four members who should be inducted as Executive Members of the Council was also sent to the Governor.

As there was a delay in approving the names of the Dy CEM and EMs, a writ petition was filed before the Meghalaya High Court and the court gave its verdict on Tuesday stating that the Governor of the state has no discretion to withhold the appointment of executive members (EM) as advice by the CEM.

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Kharpuri said that she welcomed the court ruling but maintained that the Council cannot be run by a minority Executive Council.

Kharpuri has supported the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and left the United Democratic Forum (UDF) led by Kharkongor after it was reduced to minority thereby leading to political instability and uncertainty in the KHADC.

“The Court has given the best ruling and I welcomed it. However if we talk about the Council, I want to make it clear that I have left the UDF because I want stability in the Council, and the people should not suffer at all by such instability,” Kharpuri said.

Kharpuri also questioned as to how the Executive Committee which is not in majority can run the Council.

“I cannot go for the sake of the chair because I want stability. If you there is no number, how can a minority EC run the affairs of the Council. In democracy like ours, the minority cannot rule be it in District Councils or State government ,” the Nongshken MDC asserted.