SHILLONG, JAN 8: The Rowell Lyngdoh led committee constituted by the state government to examine the existing Benami Act and Tenancy Bill on Thursday decided to submit its recommendations without the views and suggestions of the two autonomous district councils (ADCs) after both failed to provide their suggestions on the two laws.
“We have decided to complete the process of examining the two laws, since the two ADCs – KHADC and JHADC has failed to give their views and suggestions,” deputy chief Minister Rowel Lyngdoh told reporters after a meeting of the committee on Thursday.
The decision of the committee also came after the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) failed to turn up in today’s meeting.
Earlier on December last year, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has also turned down the invitation of the committee to discuss on the issue.“Both the ADCs have failed to communicate to the committee on the reasons behind their inability to attend the meetings,” Lyngdoh informed.
According to Lyngdoh, only the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) came forward and participated during the meeting convened on November last year and also submitted written suggestion to the committee.
Lyngdoh, also the chairman of the committee said, “We however have nothing to say on the failure of the ADCs to attend the committee’s meeting but we have decided we will no longer wait for them but to proceed with the exercise.”
“We are trying to complete the entire process at the earliest,” Lyngdoh said while informing that the committee will be submitting its recommendation to the state government within this month.
Lyngdoh informed that the views and suggestions given by the GHADC have already been included in the proceedings of the committee.
The Rowel Lyngdoh led committee is one of the three committees constituted by the state government in its effort to come up with a comprehensive mechanism to tackle the problem of influx and illegal immigration entering into the state.
Lyngdoh felt that the failure of the KHADC and JHADC to discuss the two laws indicates that they are not taking the issue seriously.
The committee also decided to wait for the views and opinions of the traditional chiefs from Khasi hills region.
Earlier, Lyngdoh informed that the views and opinions expressed during the meetings convened by the committee agreed the need to have in place a tenancy verification bill for the security of the land owner, house owner as well as the tenants.
With regards to Benami act, Lyngdoh said, “They have only expressed the need to create awareness on the act as till today despite existence of this law, there is not a single case detected in Meghalaya.”
The Meghalaya Benami Transaction Prohibition, Act was passed way back in 1980. Lyngdoh also said, that the Act passed by the Meghalaya government is more detailed compared to one passed by the centre after 1980.
Admitting there is increased benami transaction taking place in the state, Lyngdoh however said when a law is being legislated, citizens should have complete knowledge about its existence.
Lyngdoh, therefore, said that the state government has decided to direct the State Legal Authority to conduct awareness programmes on the Benami Act. – By Our Reporter
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