India News | Gauhati HC Dismisses Writ Petition Challenging Governor's Decision on BTC
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The Gauhati High Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition challenging Governor Jagdish Mukhi's decision to place Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under his rule after the tenure of the previous BTC, where the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) was in power, had expired in April.
Guwahati, Jul 13 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition challenging Governor Jagdish Mukhi's decision to place Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under his rule after the tenure of the previous BTC, where the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) was in power, had expired in April.
Hearing the writ petition by BTC deputy speaker Nerswn Boro and BTC executive member Jagadish Sarkar, Justice Achintya Malla Bujor Barua dismissed the case citing lack of merit.
The governor assumed control of the BTC, which covers four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, after the state election commission expressed inability to hold polls there due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. The Raj Bhawan said in a release, "The Honourable Gauhati High Court today dismissed the writ petition which challenged the Governor's assumption of the BTC administration upon the expiry of its term on April 27, 2020."
"The Honorable Gauhati High Court giving its verdict on the writ petition filed by Nerswn Boro and Jagadish Sarkar observed that there is no merit in the writ petition and therefore it should stand dismissed," the release said.
In its ruling, the Gauhati High Court observed that the governor had assumed the administration of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) by exercising the power under Paragraph 16(2) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and had appointed an administrator. Election to the 40-member BTC was scheduled on April 4, but it was postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the governor assumed administration of the Council on expiry of its five-year term on April 27 this year. Welcoming the verdict, BJP Assam president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said in a statement that the High Court's decision will strengthen democracy. "Nobody can deny the role of all parties in strengthening the basic principles of democracy. Moreover, the public has welcomed the steps taken by the governor to continue the developmental works in the BTAD," he added. Dass hoped that people will be able to elect a government in BTC soon in a clean and transparent manner.
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