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A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh have dropped the contempt case filed against Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) MLA, Adelbert Nongrum after he offered an apology for the statements he made against the court in 2015.

Adelbert Nongrum, in 2015, when he was the chief executive member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), had made a public statement saying that he “dares court to hold him in contempt.”

There were 5 other Hynniewtrep Youth Council leaders along with Nongrum– Anthony Kharbuli, Robertjune Kharjahrin, Donboklang Kharlyngdoh, Nickson Dohling and Issac Basaiawmoit – in the Contempt Case.

The HC Bench said that since the first respondent (Nongrum) has filed an affidavit and the previous order noticed that the other respondent had also filed their affidavits, no further action may be taken on the matter.

“The respondents are reminded that while it is open to every citizen to indulge in constructive criticism of any system or institution, scurrilous criticism lowers the dignity of the institution and undermines the authority that such institution may otherwise exercise,” the court added.

The Bench stated that “The bail bonds pertaining to the first respondent i.e. Nongrum will stand discharged. Crl. OP (C) No. 1 of 2015 and MC [Crl. OP (C)] No. 3 of 2015 are dropped.”