An all-party meeting is also likely to be convened for discussing the issue with all political parties in the state.
This came after there has been a growing demand for calling a special session of the State Assembly to discuss the issue pertaining to the roster system and the state reservation policy following a recent order passed by the Meghalaya High Court.
Speaking to media persons, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that he does not see any need to have a special session to discuss the issue.
“However, I am not saying that right now. When Chief Minister is back in Shillong, we are planning to have an all-party meeting, we would (also like to have an MDA meeting but first of all we will have a detailed discussion in the cabinet and then ultimately we will take a decision maybe we can also call an all-party meeting where we can share and discuss everything with all the political parties,” he said.
When asked that the Court had clearly stated that how far back the roster system would be made applicable are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive of the state, Tynsong said, “Well that is a very long story. Let me just tell you one thing, we already filed the affidavit three times and that time the Meghalaya High Court (in its earlier order) says you have to do the roster system right from 1972. They clearly said it should be right from the inception of the reservation policy which means that we have to go back from 1972.”
“But in view of the latest ruling of the High Court, we will again sit down, we will discuss in the Cabinet, we will discuss in the MDA and thereafter we can even call the all party meeting,” he added.
Agreeing with the demand of the NGOs that the roster system should not be implemented right from 1972, the deputy chief minister said, “It should not be retrospective. That is true. Even from the government side last year, we already filed affidavits two-three times, we requested the High Court if possible let us make it prospective. From the day the ruling came in we would like to have that roster system also to be in place from that time itself.”
Referring to the demand for reviewing the state reservation policy, Tynsong however said, “We will take up (the issues) one by one. As of now I think the issue is about the roster system so the government has taken note of this and we will discuss in the Cabinet and we will discuss with the MDA partners as well as if necessary we will call the all party meeting.”
On April 3, the Court had dismissed a PIL filed by one Greneth M Sangma without going into the merits of the matter pertaining to the roster system for reserved seats in the State and said, “The Court may be called upon to look into the matter at a more appropriate stage.”
The Court said the judicial notice needs to be taken of the discussions pertaining to the roster in the new Assembly.
“However, it does not appear that any decision has yet been taken as to a cut-off date or the like or how far back the roster system would be made applicable. These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with law,” it said while adding that “As of now, and without a decision in such regard having been taken by the Assembly which is actively discussing the matter, the present petition should not be entertained.”
By Our Reporter
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