SHILLONG, DEC 14: Amidst walk out by the opposition and protest by anti-graft activists, the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government of Mukul Sangma passed the new Meghalaya Lokayukta Bills, 2012 by repealing the decade old bill which opposition legislators and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) members claim to be a “toothless bill” as it protects the government machineries with a clause that excludes a complaint against government official by merely citing “public interest.”
Even though the new act covers the chief minister and the Governor besides all other public servants but allows the state government to disregard a complaint against any officials through the particular clause.
Irate opposition members staged a walkout on last day of the winter session of the assembly Friday in protest against the government for rushing the passing of the act even as opposition leader Conrad K Sangma, said, “It would be an irresponsible behaviour on our part if we pass a bill that has so many flaws.”
Chief minister Mukul Sangma came under volley of criticism as the opposition leader questioned the government motive for allowing only the appointment of members of legal fraternity in the Lokayukta and excluding prominent civil society members.
Conrad said, “Only members from legal profession can be Lokayukta members and the act lacks powers to prosecute.
The erudite UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh also took a dig at its coalition partner, Congress, of which the UDP is also a member, by saying the bill suffers from “various deformities” and as it has to follow a cumbersome process of filing complaints against the erring public servants.Another vocal UDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit voiced his concern against many loopholes in the act, and said if the government passes the bill in its present form it will only provides rooms for corrupt practices to flourish.
However chief minister Mukul Sangma stoutly defended the government’s decision to pass the bill by saying that the short assembly session do not leave any room for a threadbare discussion on the act and its contents and therefore proposed that the same be passed as sub-rules (c) of Rule 72 of the Rules of procedures and conduct of business was suspended which allowed him to move a motion to pass the bill.
Pushing the bill through Sangma said, “The House is left with either to pass or reject or to refer it to a select committee at this state.”
Assembly speaker Charles Pyngrope also allotted little time for discussion of the bill and refused to extend the session and refer the bill to a select committee as demanded by the opposition legislators.
Pyngrope allowed the bill to be passed with a plea the bill can still be amended in the future.
Ngo leaders who had spearheaded an agitation for a strong Lokayukta bill and had come in droves to witness the assembly session held placards that read “The CM has betrayed the people” and “The babus are to be blamed also” immediately after the bill was passed.
Placard condemning the chief minister, assembly speaker and deputy chief minister in-charge of law were seen inside the assembly premises for “letting the people down”.- By Our Reporter
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