By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Ahead of the all-party meeting on “dubious” voters on Tuesday, several NGOs under the umbrella of Social Organisations of Meghalaya against Land Alienation (SOMALA) has urged the State Government to enroll only “bonafide residents” of the state.
In a petition to the State government it suggested that the enrollment of the voters in the State should be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act 1971 and also in confirmation with the provisions of the Constitution of India.
The SOMALA said, “those who acquired land in Meghalaya in contravention to the provisions of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971, are not legal land holders and such lands are considered void, enforceable by any court of law.”
“As such, there is no justification for the illegal resident of Meghalaya to be enrolled as voters and they should be deleted from the electoral roll,” SOMALA convener W Anthony said.
In a letter to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, Anthony said, “all persons above 18 years of age and who settled in Meghalaya for any period of time in contravention to the provision of the Act cannot be given the benefit of enrollment in the electoral roll.”
According to the SOMALA, “such enrollment violates the local land laws and is also contrary to the principle of protection safeguarding the economic growth of tribals within the scheduled areas mandated by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.” It may mentioned here that the state government has convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the enrollment drives of voters in Meghalaya to bring an end to the stalemate between the government and the agitating NGOs.
“Except the bonafide Meghalayans, all other names enrolled as voters should be deleted from the electoral rolls,” the SOMALA said.