SHILLONG, MAY 12: The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has demanded the state government to revoke its just approved ‘ordinance’ on the ground that the district council doesn’t required its support to resolve the present crisis related to the traditional heads.
According to the party, the situation arising out of the ruling of the High Court last year can be resolve if the state government is willing to approve the Village Administration Bill passed by the KHADC.
Yesterday, the state cabinet had approved the Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies, Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Ordinance, 2015.
The cabinet has also decided to forward the ordinance to the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi for his approval, to ensure the present crisis is resolved.
“This ordinance cannot be accepted and we demand the state government to immediately revoke it,” UDP working president Bindo M Lanong told newsmen on Tuesday.
He said, “The Governor also cannot give his assent because it is an undemocratic move on the part of the state government.”
Pointing out that the district council has recently resent the amended version of the VA Bill, Lanong said, “My contention is that the situation will be resolve, if the government simply study, approve and forward it (VAB) to the Governor for his assent, which matter will be closed and finished.”
Accusing the government of politicizing the matter by coming up with an ordinance, Lanong said, “But here, the government is playing politics. It has politicized the situation because the executive committee in the KHADC is being headed by regional alliance, the ARPA, and to show that they are not capable of handling the situation.”
According to him, such kind of contention is discounted because of the fact that the Bill is already in the corridor of the government.
“But it is the government who doesn’t want to forward the Bill to the Governor as they want to gain political mileage,” he added.
Further, the UDP has also pointed out that there is no auxiliary or incidental situations which the district council requires the support of the state government.
“There is one version under State List paragraph 5 of the 7th Schedule, the state government can make law only for purpose of supporting the areas where the local self-government like municipal, panchayati raj and district council for auxiliary and incidental nature,” he said.
Having said this, Lanong however said, “But the district council doesn’t require any support of the state government as it has already have the village administration Bill which was sent to the government.”
He questioned the government under which provision of the law, it is trying to introduce the ordinance to empower the headmen.
Citing a definite and clear provision towards this question, Lanong said, “Under the paragraph 3, 1 (g) of the Sixth Schedule, it provides the district council to appoint the chiefs and headmen in the traditional institutions followed by paragraph 3 (2) that all laws made under the above should be sent to the Governor for his assent.”
Stating the provision is clear that the powers lie with the district council, he said, “The ordinance approved by the government is just to encroach into the jurisdiction of the district council.”
Meanwhile, the UDP has also blamed the government for prevailing law and order in the state.
“The law and order in the state seems to be going out of hand as a result of the ordinance prepared and released by the government to empower the traditional chiefs and headmen and also the situation has escalate after the arrest of the KSU leader Daniel Khyriem,” he said adding “I feel the state government is entirely responsible for the law and order at the moment.”- By Our Reporter
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