The appointment of a new Gaonbura (headman) in the village of Askikandi under Phulbari Police Station in West Garo Hills has been flagged by the incumbent who questioned the process of appointment by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The complaint was submitted by Abdul Goffur today to the GHADC Revenue Officer.
In it Goffur said that the appointment was made without the knowledge or support of the Askikandi villagers.
“The appointment seems illegal as there is no complaint against me. I have been removed as Gaonbura and another appointed without due process being followed. The said order needs to be impugned,” said Goffur in his complaint.
He added that he had been serving for over a decade after being elected unanimously by the village and the appointment approved by the GHADC.
“Due process was not followed” in the appointment of the new headman, Abdul Latif, Goffur said. “We have faith in the rules of the GHADC set for the appointment and removal of Gaonburas. To continue in office, the gaonbura must have the confidence of the village. The length of the tenure is immaterial.”
Terming the move of the GHADC to appoint someone in his place without following procedure as arbitrary and illegal, Goffur sought the immediate impugning of the order of appointment of Latif as the headman of Askikandi.