SHILLONG, MAR 30: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said he will seek amendment of the ‘Meghalaya Legislative Assembly & Secretariat Rules’ which equated the rank of a parliamentary secretary to that of a minister.
“I am writing to the Speaker and I will make a submission requesting him to look at the relevant provision of the rule and effect an amendment as per mandate of the Act,” Sangma told reporters at the sideline of a function on Wednesday.
His statement came in the wake of the alleged violation by the state government of the Article 164 (1) of the Constitution (Ninety-First Amendment) Act, 2003 by appointing 18 parliamentary secretaries in the government.
Jirang Independent legislator Lamboklang Mylliem yesterday decided to resign from the post of Parliamentary Secretary in-charge Taxation citing ‘the existing laws need to be respected’.
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly & Secretariat Rules clearly defines that – “Minister means a member of the council of Ministers, a Minister of State, a Deputy Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary.”
However, the Constitution (Ninety-First Amendment) Act, 2003 had stated, “The size of the Council of Ministers in the Union Government and in a State Government should not be more than fifteen per cent of the total number of Members of the Lower House of the Parliament/State Legislature.”
It has also stated that the minimum strength of ministers in case of smaller States should be twelve.- By Our Reporter
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