SHILLONG, MAY 12: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has expressed its reservation over the ‘Ordinance’ approved by the state cabinet alleging that this is a move to encroach into legislative jurisdiction of the council.
Sticking to its demand, KHADC reiterated that it wants the government to immediately pass the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014, as it felt this is the only solution to permanently resolve the current stalemate arising out of the Meghalaya high court ruling clipping the powers of the headmen and traditional institutions last year.
The decision to iterate its demand for the Village Bill was taken at a meeting held with the 30 MDCs from both ruling and opposition and traditional heads convened by the executive committee (EC) of the KHADC on Tuesday.
“We strongly protest against the state government’s decision to interfere and encroach into the legislative powers of the district council by passing an ordinance,” KHADC chief Adelbert Nongrum told newsmen after the meeting.
Nongrum said, “We also urged the people especially traditional institutions and traditional heads not to be misled by this move taken by the state government.”
The Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies, Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Ordinance, 2015 was approved by the cabinet on Monday.
Earlier, the District Council Affairs (DCA) department had twice returned the village administration Bill passed by the KHADC. The DCA in its letter sent to the district council on March 18, has indicated that the Bill lacks ‘democratic ingredients’.
On this, Nongrum said, the district council as per direction of the DCA department has completed its exercise to rectify the flaws in the bill and had already re-submitted the bill about a week ago.
Stating that the council wants a permanent solution towards the issue related to the headmen, Nongrum said, “We have given maximum time to the state government to examine the bill but instead of passing the bill, the government is trying to encroach into the subject of the district council.”
Nongrum maintained that the ordinance is only a temporary relief. He said all the 30 MDCs of the KHADC will never accept the ordinance passed by the state government. He added, “What is the content of the ordinance is also yet to be known to everybody.”
Meanwhile, today’s meeting has also unanimously requested Nongrum to withdraw his proposed fast unto death over the failure of the government to pass the VA Bill, after the all the MDCs irrespective of party affiliated assured to work together on the issue.
Earlier, Nongrum issued a ten-day deadline to the state government to immediately approve the Bill and send it for the Governor’s assent, which will expire, three days from now (Friday).
Saying that he appreciates the concern of the MDCs, Nongrum however, said “I can only extend the deadline but I am firm with my stand on the issue.”
The meeting also resolved to direct all the Himas to speed up the framing of their rules and Acts for immediate codification of their respective traditional and customary laws.
Urging traditional heads of different Himas to cooperate with the direction as the situation demands their urgent attention, EM in charge Elaka KP Pangniang also informed, “The Executive Committee (EC) will convene an emergent meeting to come up with a notification to take the responsibility upon itself in as far as issuing of NOCs and certificates are concerned till the present crisis is resolved.”
The MDCs also resolved they will soon convene a meeting with all the traditional chiefs and headmen on the issue. – By Our Reporter
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