SHILLONG, MAY 11: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has constituted a Committee to see that the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, that seeks to empower the traditional institutions and their heads, is re-introduced in the House and get the approval of the Governor at the earliest.
Addressing the media after the meeting of the executive committee here on Friday, KHADC chief PN Syiem informed that the Committee on Village Administration Bill will be headed by the deputy chief executive member (Dy. CEM) Teilinia S Thangkhiew.
The other members are MDCs from the different political parties which are supporting the People Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by the People Democratic Front (PDF) and also from the opposition Congress.
The decision was taken after the Governor Ganga Prasad had returned the VAB with a message that “future proposals be confined to the provisions of the Sixth Schedule”.
The governor had also pointed out that it has been found that the pitch and substance of the Bill in its present form is beyond the jurisdiction of the District Council which is apparent as per the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (North East Division) letter dated January 2016.
The governor also said in view of the legal and constitutional validity of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2014, the power of the District Council under paragraph 3 (1) (e), (f), (g) and (j) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India is limited.
The CEM said that the Committee would hold meetings with the traditional institutions for their views and opinions on the matter.
“We want to ensure that the Bill is finalized and place before the next session of the Council so that the same can be submitted to the governor for his assent,” he added.
The VAB was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on July 1, 2014. The Bill was subsequently corrected through corrigenda accepted and approved by the KHADC on May 30, 2015.
However when it was submitted for assent, the Governor had forwarded the Bill to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for examination. The MHA had raised 12-point queries in its letter to the state government after certain conflicting provisions in the Bill was found.
By Our Reporter
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