Shillong, Apr 3: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Winston Tony Lyngdoh, has defended the appointment of a non-Khasi as the council’s standing counsel, a move that has the opposition up in arms.
“I want to put a question across – is this the first time that the district council has done such a thing? I am asking when they (opposition parties) were in the EC didn’t they appoint a non-tribal counsel?” the CEM asked while stating that no MDC questioned the appointment at the time it was made.
Lyngdoh said that the newly appointed standing counsel will argue for the KHADC only in some cases and not all. Other Khasi lawyers, who are more junior, have also been appointed by the KHADC to its legal team.
“We are looking for proficient Khasi lawyers who can argue on our behalf,” Lyngdoh stated.
Opposition MDCs questioned the appointment of a non-Khasi senior advocate, following the resignation of TT Diengdoh.
