The Gauhati High Court today directed the Assam government and the State Election Commission to issue instructions regarding holding of elections to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Manojit Bhuyan gave the directive after hearing a public interest litigation filed by Karbi Students Association along with Student and Youth Council and an individual, Bidyasingh Rongpi.
The PIL stated that the present term of KAAC would expire on January 13, 2017 and as per para-2(6A) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the term of the council members was for a period of five years.
The petitioners also raised their apprehension that although the process of election of new members of the council ought to have been initiated, the state authorities were not taking steps for holding elections for a new council due to "political consideration".
The court, after hearing the case today, issued notices to the state council as well as the State Election Commission and directed them to come out with instructions for holding of election to KAAC.
The next date of hearing of the case has been fixed on January 4, 2017.
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