SHILLONG, MAY 11: The state cabinet on Monday approved the ordinance to empower the traditional institutions/bodies which is likely to put an end to the current stalemate arising out of the last year’s High Court ruling clipping the powers of the traditional institutions and the headmen.
The Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies, Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Ordinance, 2015 was approved by the cabinet convened by the chief minister Mukul Sangma on Monday evening.
“The cabinet has deliberated upon the details of the proposal to give effect to this ordinance, with the spirit of empowering the traditional institutions/traditional bodies and headmen in day to day administration and public delivery system,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting.
Sangma said, “This proposed legislative measure through ordinance is specific for ensuring their (traditional institutions) involvement in the matter of day to day administration and public delivery system in respect to developmental programmes of the government in the best interest of the people and of the state.”
The ordinance passed by the cabinet will be send to the Governor for approval.
“It will be sent for the Governor’s assent and once that is done it will be notified,” Sangma said adding “We have completed the exercise and it will be send immediately.”
When enquired whether the ordinance will also cover the Nokmas in the Garo hills region, Sangma said, “It will obviously extend to the whole area of the state of Meghalaya.”
The order issued by the Meghalaya high court on December 10, 2014 had directed the state government not to entertain No Objection Certificate or certificates issued by the traditional heads until and unless they are empower by rule or law.
Answering to a query whether the step taken by the government would bring back the powers of the traditional heads in the state, Sangma said, “What is being done by the government is that there was need for legal mandate, things which has been done in the past were in-sync with the desire need of the involvement of the traditional bodies but there was no legal mandate through any legislative measures.”
Sangma said that today the legal mandate has been given for actual involvement of traditional bodies with the approval of the ordinance.
According to Sangma, the government has been working on this issue in order to ensure the involvement of the traditional institutions/traditional bodies as has been done in the past and the need for the continuity.- By Our Reporter
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