Sangma meets Rajth, discusses VABs

From OUR Correspondent

SHILLONG, Nov 1: Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma today met Union Home Minister; Rajth Singh at the latter’s residence to discuss about the assent of the Governor to the two Village Administration Bills passed by the two Autonomous District Councils of the Khasi Hills and the Jaintia Hills.

The Chief Minister apprised Home Minister Singh about the background of the matter stating that with a view to address the vacuum created by the Meghalaya High Court order on December 10 last year which disempowered the headmen/traditiol institutions to issue residential certificates or no objection certificates for sale/transfer of property, opening of bank accounts etc.

According to Dr Sangma the State Government after consultation with various legal experts had promulgated an Ordince.

He said the Government has taken care so that the promulgation of the Ordince did not affect the authority or encroach into the jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Councils.

The Chief Minister said that the interim arrangement was urgently required at that juncture to take care of the urgent and genuine needs of the common citizens.

Dr Sangma further informed the Union Minister that the two District Councils had ected their own legislations on the matter, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 and the Jaintia Autonomous District Council (Establishment of Elaka and Village Election, Appointment, Powers, Functions and Jurisdiction of Dolloi/Sirdar and Waheh Shnong) Bill, 2015 which were submitted to the State Government for obtaining the assent of the Governor.

The Chief Minister also informed Singh that few provisions in those Bills which were found in conflict with the provisions of the Constitutions and other Central and State laws were discussed with the concerned District Councils and accordingly had carried out appropriate modifications in the Bills.

He informed Singh that the Bills with the opinion of the Advocate General were recommended by the State Government to the Governor for his assent. He said that the Governor has referred these Bills to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking their advice on their constitutiol validity.

Dr Sangma further informed the Union Home Minister that the perceived delay in the grant of assent to the said Bills has caused a fair amount of apprehension and anxiety among the traditiol institutions. “Questioning the intentions of the Government, the association of Headmen has launched an agitation demanding immediate assent of the Governor to the Bills,” he said.

The Chief Minister sought the persol intervention of the Union Home Minister so that the two Bills are examined quickly and the considered views of the Ministry are conveyed to the Governor of Meghalaya on utmost priority in order to eble him to take early decision on the matter of grant of assent to these Bills so that the institutions can once again work as partners with the Government in maintaining law and order and bring in peace and harmony in the State. The Union Home Minister assured Dr Sangma that necessary action will be taken in this regard.