Needs Rijiju’s intervention

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, FEB 2: The KHADC on Thursday decided to seek the intervention of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju into the alleged “lapses” of forwarding the VAB to the MHA, which is not as per provisions of the Sixth Schedule.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) with the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U  Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) on Thursday.

“We have decided to seek an appointment with the Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju for his intervention into the matter to ensure the approval of the VAB is speeded up at the earliest,” KHADC chief PN Syiem told reporters.

The KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015, which passed by the KHADC two years ago, was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by the then Governor V Shanmuganathan for examination.

Subsequent to this, the MHA had raised 12-point queries on the VAB, which KHADC has already replied and submitted through the District Council Affairs (DCA) department for necessary action.

However, the KHADC is yet to know the status on the matter due to alleged silence of the DCA department and the Governor’s Secretariat despite reminders from time to time.

Syiem informed that the delegation of the KHADC along with the traditional heads would also draw the attention of the union minister of state on the alleged lapses in the manner in which the VAB was forwarded to the MHA.

“This is because the decision of the Governor (who is supposed to act as per the advice of council of ministers) to forward the VAB to the MHA is not as per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” he said.

Earlier during a meeting convened by the chief minister Mukul Sangma with the delegation of the SNSBH on August 31, last year, the state government had suggested the KHADC to recall the VAB and take up necessary measures to amend certain conflicting provisions, which will pave way for it to become an Act.

Sangma later even accused the KHADC CEM PN Syiem of cheating the “Jaitbynriew” for passing a Bill which can never be passed by the office of the Governor since it comes into conflict with the Constitution of India.

When asked, SNSBH general secretary RL Blah said, “When the CM was insisting on the need to recall the VAB, we on our part had made our stand clear that we are not elected representatives so our role is just to express the same before the CEM.”

He said such decision (to recall the VAB) wholly depend on the wisdom of the KHADC and the CEM.

Meanwhile, the traditional heads have also expressed concern over the failure of the state government to provide copy on the minutes of the meeting held on August 31, 2016 despite reminding for at least three consecutive times.

“If the state government is not providing us the minutes of the meeting within 10 days, we would have no option but to go ahead with our general meeting to be held very soon to discuss on the matter,” he said.

He said that the reluctance of the state government only reflects that it is insensitive towards the issue concerning the indigenous community and have called the meeting just for sake of calling.