SHILLONG, JAN 9: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Friday served two weeks ultimatum to the state government demanding immediate approval of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014.
“We have decided to demand that the state government give due consideration to the request put forth by the council in completing the entire exercise relating to the bill including getting assent of the Governor within two weeks time,” KHADC chief Adelbert Nongrum told reporters after an all party meeting on Friday.
According to him, the district council expressed its disagreement on the failure on the part of the government to take a call on the bill. “There is no justification on the part of the government to hold on the bill, which was passed by the council on June last year,” Nongrum said.
Nongrum is of of the opinion that the if the state government found that there are flaws in the bill, it is its duty to immediately revert it back to the council for further fine tuning.
It may be mentioned here that the pressure from the district council also came following the recent ruling of the Meghalaya High Court that has asked from where the headmen derives their power.
Nongrum said that the passing of the village administration bill is relevant in view of the recent ruling of the Meghalaya High Court, which has questioned the role and function of the traditional heads in the state.
According to Nongrum, the village administration bill aimed to streamline, protect and empower the traditional institutions especially the Dorbar Shnong in conformity with the prevailing traditional system and customs of the Khasi community.
KHADC further decided to seek immediate intervention of chief minister Mukul Sangma if the government fails to approve the bill within the stipulated time.
“We will be forced to lead a joint delegation of all the MDCs representing the various political parties to the Chief Minister to impress on the need to get the assent of the Governor of this important bill at the earliest,” Nongrum warned.
Earlier, the UDP and traditional heads had demanded that the KHADC withdraw the bill from the state government for redrafting and fine tuning.
Rejecting to this idea, Nongrum said, “Personally, I am satisfied with the existing bill.”
Stating that the Council has spent more than three years on drafting of the village administration bill, he said, “I do not see there is a need for redrafting of the bill. If there is necessity, we can bring amendments later to rectify if there are any discrepancies of the bill.”- By Our Reporter
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