Shillong, March 9: A PIL seeking exclusion of non-tribals from the GHADC polls was withdrawn by the petitioner on Monday.
During the hearing of the case, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh observed that the counsel for the petitioner, based on the instructions of the petitioner, wanted to withdraw the petition.
“The petition is, accordingly, disposed of as withdrawn. We make it clear that we have not gone into the merits of the petition and as such, all contentions of all parties on merits are kept open”, said the Division Bench.
The PIL was filed by Niksrang Ch Marak through his lawyer PT Sangma to bar non-tribals from taking part and contesting the upcoming GHADC polls.
The matter was heard by the court on March 5, and it posted the PIL for March 9.
On February 17, the executive committee of GHADC passed a resolution making it mandatory for the candidates to produce ST certificates.
