By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In the wake of the CMJ University scam and the criticism over the State Government’s failure to monitor the functioning of private universities in the State, former Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope on Sunday defended the passage of the Meghalaya Private Universities (Regulation of Establishment and Maintenance of Standards) Act, 2012, saying that members of the Assembly have the scope of protesting in the House when Government bills are taken up.
As per rule, before passage of any bill, it should be circulated four days in advance for the members to have discussion on the matter.
However, there is a practice to move for suspension of rules for the Government to enable passage of important bills when there is no time left for discussion, the former Speaker stated.
Pyngrope’s statement assumes significance with UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh expressing concern over the ‘haste’ in passing several bills including the Private Universities Regulation Bill, without proper discussion in the Assembly. The UDP working president had also decried the Government’s action of suspension of the rules with relation to passage of important bills.
According to the former Speaker, when the Parliamentary Affairs Minister moves for suspension of rules before consideration and passing of important bills, any member can raise a point of order seeking discussion of the bills in the House. “However, most of the members had failed to utilize the opportunity on several occasions,” he added.
Pyngrope also said that when a bill is introduced before passing, the Speaker gives opportunity seeking the sense of the House for the members to vote for or against it, which means that the members can register their protest.
He pointed out that there have been instances in the past when certain bills were referred to the Assembly Committees for further scrutiny.
“Unless it is a motion of no confidence, the members irrespective of party affiliations can raise their views against passing of a Government bill without discussion in the House,” Pyngrope said.