HC Admits Plea by Garo Students' on Civic Polls

Shillong, Aug 28 : The Gauhati High Court has admitted a petition by Garo Students Union challenging the proposed municipal polls in Meghalaya's Garo Hills but refused to stay the polls.

Admitting the petition, a bench comprising Justice A Ansari and A Hazarika today issued notice to the government and fixed September 6 as the date of hearing.

The court, however, refused to stay the September 29 elections as sought by the petitioner, saying there was still enough time.

Earlier, the government announced elections to the offices of ward commissioners of four municipal boards in the three districts of Garo hills.

"Following the 1992 amendment in the Constitution, panchayat and municipal provisions do not extend to the tribal areas which are under Sixth Schedule," the GSU said in the petition.

The state government has decided to seek public opinion on a bill that envisages reforms on the municipal act, paving the way for holding of the first ever civic polls in the state, including Garo Hills, since it attained statehood.

The move has been initiated in a bid to avail the benefit under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, official sources said.