By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The proposed move of the Government to extend the tenure of the three district councils is constitutionally illegal, according to former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong.
The Union Parliament, State Assembly, the district councils or the Governors have no right to extend the life of the House or the councils unless through a proclamation of emergency.
There were reports indicating that the Government through the Meghalaya Governor was contemplating to extend the tenure of the district councils to hold the next elections to councils after delimiting the council constituencies.
However, Lanong, who is an expert on district councils affairs, said there is no justification in the move for extension of the tenure of councils. “There is no constitutional validity to such a move”, he added.
According to him, the life of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly was not extended though there were differences during the delimitation exercise.
Reports had said that the State Government will constitute a delimitation commission to examine the issue of realignment of constituencies of the councils and till the time the commission arrives at a decision, the tenure of the Councils would be extended.