By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) unanimously passed the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Establishment of Town Committee) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012 on the third and final day of the Autumn Session on Thursday.
The Amendment Bill was passed by the House without a single amendment motion being moved by any of the MDCs.
The Amendment empowers the Council to insert a clause in the Act to allow the Executive Committee to appoint an Adhoc Town Committee pending election of the members of town committees outside the jurisdiction of the municipality.
With this Amendment, the Executive Committee, through a notification, would be authorized to constitute an Adhoc Town Committee comprising of a Chairman and other members (not less than seven and not more than 11) to be nominated from among the prominent residents of the area concerned.
Meanwhile, Nongthymmai MDC Latiplang Kharkongor moved an amendment motion for deletion of Section 7 which has been inserted in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administrative of Elaka) Act 1991 (Second Amendment Bills) 2012.
Section 7 is related with the formation and constitution of new administrative units.
As per Section 7, the Executive Committee with the approval of the Council may by public notification, constitute a new administrative unit by separation of such village or villages from an Elaka or Elakas if there is a demand from majority of the people of the village or villages.
While moving the amendment motion, Kharkongor warned that insertion of Section 7 would put the Council into a lot of trouble in the future.
“It would allow certain vested interests to take advantage of Section 7 by demanding constitution of a separate administrative unit without any valid reasons,” the MDC said.
Taking cognizance of the arguments put forward by Kharkongor, the Executive Committee accepted to delete Section 7 from the Second Amendment Bill.
Besides, the House also passed United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District Council (Management and Control of Forest) Fifth Amendment Bill, 2012 and Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Trading by Non-Tribals) (Amendment) Rules, 2012.