a copy of the Delimitation Bill during the special session of the KHADC on Saturday.
SHILLONG: Despite stiff opposition from several members, the KHADC on Saturday passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Constitution of District Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2013, seeking delimitation of constituencies for the upcoming 2014 District Council polls, at a special session on Saturday.
Pointing out several spelling and typing errors in the draft Bill, KHNAM MDCs – Carmel Sohtun (Laitkhroh), Adelbert Nongrum (Jaiaw), James Ban Basaiawmoit (Mawkhar) and Latiplang Kharkongor (Nongthymmai) – expressed unhappiness with the report of the Delimitation Committee and asked the House to refrain from pasing the Bill without further deliberation.
The MDCs also alleged that they had not received any notice for the special session.
An enraged Sohtun even tore a copy of the draft Delimitation Bill, while Nongrum protested stating that the KHADC Executive Committee led by Chief Executive Member PN Syiem was behaving in a ‘dictatorial manner’ as the draft Bill was passed in haste.
Sohtun, while asserting that he would continue to protest against the Bill, demanded that the Bill must not be passed as the election to the District Council was only a couple of months away.
“What is the emergency to convene a special session?” Nongrum questioned even as he stated that the special session was convened to air the voice of politics for the benefit of certain politicians.
Basaiawmoit questioned the public hearings on the Bill and alleged that it was prepared in haste.
While criticizing the committee for changing the name of a constituency under Mawkhar, he said, “I was surprised that the name Nongkhardot A and B appeared in the list when the actual name is Khliehshnong and Pdengshnong.” He observed that it was the responsibility of the Delimitation Committee to correct all the errors in the names of places.
Several other MDCs, too, pointed to various errors in the draft Bill.
“The errors could be correct and it is just about 0.5 per cent to 5 per cent,” KHADC CEM PN Syiem told reporters after the session, while adding that the report of the Delimitation Committee will be submitted to the District Council Affairs department on December 23.
The term of the elected house of the KHADC expires on February 16.