SHILLONG, FEB 12: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Friday accused the Congress led MUA-II state government of adopting a “double-standard” approach on issue related to the former’s village administration bill.
According to the council, the state government had allegedly sought clarification from the district council after it had already sent the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015 to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“The government is showing a double-standard with regards to the VAB,” KHADC chief PN Syiem told reporters on Friday.
He was reacting to the recent statement made by chief minister Mukul Sangma alleging that the delay behind the bill not getting the necessary approval was due to the ‘lack of seriousness’ on the part of the KHADC.
The chief minister had stated that the government had sought clarification on some queries related to the VAB, which the KHADC had failed to reply.
Expressing shocked at the chief minister’s statement , Syiem said, “It is surprising that the state government is trying to shift the blame to the district council. In fact, it is the government which had only sought clarification from us when it had already sent the bill to the MHA.”
“Due to this, the district council feels that there is no point in clarifying on the queries sought by the government when the bill is now on the court of the MHA,” he said adding “We therefore decided to wait for the MHA’s views and observations.”
Out of the seven queries, the district council had replied to only four queries leaving the other three queries as they were sent for clarification only on September 8 and 11, last year after the bill had already gone to the MHA, he said.
It may be mentioned here, the Governor had forwarded the VAB of the KHADC to the MHA for its views on August 30, last year.
Syiem further revealed that the Governor before deciding to send the bill to the MHA had asked the state government to seek clarification on those queries from the district council.
“But the state government decided to delay the matter by not sending the queries to the district council on time,” he said adding “Now, who is the one who is not serious about the VAB, the government or the district council.”
On the other hand, the KHADC CEM also said, “I don’t think that the Governor would send the bill on his own without taking the advice of the council of ministers.”
“The KHADC is not the one who spoils the VAB but it is the state government, who should have advice the Governor,” he said.
Quoting the chief minister who had stated that the queries sought was related to the points that were found to be conflicting with the laws passed by the parliament, Syiem recalled that a round-table meeting between the KHADC, DCA and law department was held before the VAB, 2015 was passed.
“It is in fact after getting clearance of this meeting (held in the 3rd week of May) that the KHADC decided to convene a special session for passing the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015 (on May 30),” he said.
He questioned as to who is to be blamed on the matter, whether the District Council Affairs (DCA) or Law department, which are part and parcel of the meeting to ensure that the bill is free from any conflict with central laws.
Syiem further was of the opinion that if the state government was really serious to see that VAB gets the approval at the earliest, it should have immediately sent the queries of the Governor to the KHADC for necessary rectification.
“It should have also made efforts to hold back the bill, when it was to be sent to the MHA, to ensure that the flaws are rectified by all concerned,” he said adding “Now who is serious and who is not serious, the government or the district council.”
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) while returning the VAB of the KHADC had further sought clarification on 12 points.
The chief minister had also directed the DCA department to speed up the process of replying to the MHA.
When asked, the KHADC CEM informed that the district council is yet to be officially communicated on the matter till today.
According to him, the district council will immediately take steps to ensure that bill gets the Governor’s nod once the matter is officially communicated by the state government.-By Our Reporter
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