By Our Reporter
Shillong: Mait Shaphrang Convener Michael Syiem has come down heavily on the State government for its double-standards in implementing the Supreme Court directives.
“It seems the government does not get its priorities right in implementing various laws related to the interest of the common man”, Mait Shaphrang Convener Michael Syiem alleged.
Syiem pointed out that the speed at which the state government is implementing the Supreme Court’s order on removing tinted glasses from all vehicles is in sharp contrast to its dragging its feet on implementing the same court’s order on compulsory registration of marriages delivered in 2005.
Addressing the press here on Thursday, Syiem said “Registration of marriage despite being a very important law has been taken very lightly in the state of Meghalaya where broken families are on the rise.”
After seven years, the state is yet implement this order and legislating on compulsory registration of marriages.
It may be reminded that in late 2011, the state government had set up a committee to formulate a draft of the bill whereby suggestions were invited from various stakeholders and local NGOs.
“Till date, we have no knowledge whether our suggestions have been accepted or rejected. What is surprising is the lackadaisical attitude of this committee. Ever since it was formed only one meeting was convened and no time frame has been set to introduce this bill in the session”, Syiem asserted.Reacting to a query on whether there was not enough pressure from local NGOs including women organisations, Syiem said “Government should not wait for public pressures to enact any law but the pace at which the government is going, reflects the incapability of our government to take hard decisions.”
Referring to an article which appeared in the section of the press by a woman writer, Syiem narrated her article saying most MLAs in the state are not interested in patching up broken families as most divorced women who seek the MLA’s help would automatically become their vote banks.
Stating that divorce and abandonment are the main cause behind many problems like drops outs, mortality rate and the like, Syiem stated that high attrition rate of marriages is directly linked to all these problems as a divorced mother would generally not be able to send her children to school thereby paving the way for school drops and early marriage.
Meanwhile, turning to the drive against vehicles with tinted glasses Syiem said the Supreme Court has stated that only selected government officials are allowed to use tinted glasses, however in Meghalaya all X, Y and Z are plying around in tinted glass vehicles.
“This reflects the partisan nature of the government by strictly implementing the law applicable only for the common man whereas government officials with tight security and escorts are plying around in tinted-glass vehicles”, Syiem alleged.