SHILLONG, FEB 3: A committee constituted by the traditional heads and opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) submitted its proposals to amend the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 even as it urged KHADC to speed up the process of re-submitting the bill to the government.
“We urged the executive committee (EC) of the KHADC to speed up the process of rectifying the flaws in the bill as pointed out by the government to ensure that it gets the approval and assent of the Governor at the earliest,” UDP working president and also committee convener Bindo M Lanong told reporters after meeting the KHADC chief Adelbert Nongrum on Tuesday.
Earlier, the district council affairs (DCA) department of the state government had returned back the bill to KHADC for further rectification saying it lacks ‘ingredients of democratic aspects’ and is in conflict and duplicity to that of the state government and existing Acts and Rules of the District Council.
Lanong also said, “The EC is also suggested to only inform the house on the matter rather than taking the trouble of re-introducing it again, to avoid buying of time.”
According to Lanong, if the District Council wait till the session is being convened, many problems faced by the traditional institutions will aggravate especially in view of the recent ruling of the Meghalaya High Court.
Lanong said the KHADC chief assured the delegation that he would soon take up the matter in the executive committee for examination.
During the meeting, the six-member committee has also submitted a list of recommendations to the KHADC for bringing necessary amendment to the proposed Village Administration Bill, 2014.
“We have suggested the Council to combine together the powers and functions of the Dorbar Shnong as mentioned in Para 5 of the Bill and duties and responsibilities of the Dorbar Shnong in Para 5 (a) under one clause to avoid any unnecessary conflict,” Lanong said adding the council is also suggested to do away with the name of Dorbar Pyllun and ensure that only Dorbar Shnong is used.
To prevent any conflicts, Lanong said the committee has suggested the need to delete the clause in the bill for formation of a village development council. “We are of the view that if two powers (village development council & village dorbar) exists, it will create conflict and clash among the two, which will only lead to division within the same village,” he said.
The committee also suggested the district council to act as an appellate authority by not interfering into the issue pertaining to the elections of Rangbah Shnong.
“If the District Council is involved right from the beginning of the election process of a Rangbah Shnong, then it will be a problem for the aggrieved party if any, if they want to appeal their grievances,” Lanong said while suggesting that the election process should be left wholly on the Syiem (Chief) and subjects of the village who are the electors.- By Our Reporter
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