SHILLONG: The KHADC on Thursday witnessed high drama with the Congress-led Opposition staging a walkout in opposition to the introduction of the controversial Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Nomination and Election of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Myntri, Basan and Rangbah Shnong of Bhowal Syiemship) First Amendment Bill, 2014.
The Opposition was of the view that the bill cannot be introduced in the House since the matter was sub-judice.
The High Court had recently issued a stay order on the decision of the KHADC Executive Committee (EC) to remove the Acting Syiem of Hima Bhowal, Kynsai N Syiem, and appoint another person in his place.
KHADC Deputy Chairman Pyniaid N Syiem allowed the introduction of the bill by informing the House that as per the views of legal experts, the EC was free to introduce the bill in the ongoing session since it was a legislative matter and had no connection with the petition pending in the court. While opposing the ruling to allow the introduction of the bill, Opposition leader Pynshngain N Syiem said the Deputy Chairman should have taken the consent of the House before allowing the introduction of the bill.
“The Deputy Chairman is expected to be neutral in the conduct of business in the House. It is really unfortunate that he (Deputy Chairman) is showing bias by taking the side of the ruling bench,” Syiem said.
The Opposition leader even accused that there was some hidden agenda on the part of the EC as they wanted to pass this amendment bill by force.
“I also suspect that there might be some hidden political interest on the part of the EC behind this decision,” Syiem said.
He also mentioned that KHADC Chairperson, Teilinia Thangkhiew, had earlier disallowed a discussion on the resolution and motion moved by members of the Opposition on the NGT ban on coal mining by referring to Rule 7 A Sub Rule 3 (i) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951.
The Opposition leader pointed out that Rule 7 A Sub Rule 3 (i) states that any discussion in the House shall not relate to any matter which is under adjudication by a court of law having a jurisdiction in any part of India.
“This provision of the law also applies to the proposed amendment bill since the case of Hima Bhowal is still pending in the High Court of Meghalaya,” he said.
Syiem displayed his sentiment by banging the table while avowing that the Opposition would not allow introduction of the bill at any cost.
Even as opposition continued, Executive Member in charge Elaka KP Pangniang introduced the bill in the House, prompting the opposition MDCs to stage a walk out by shouting slogans that the Deputy Chairman was not fit to sit in the chair.
Later, while speaking to newsmen, KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit criticized the Opposition MDCs for using unparliamentary words inside the House.
“We feel that the Opposition should have respected the ruling of the Deputy Chairman. The amendment bill was allowed to be introduced after Chairman Teilinia Thangkhiew sought the views of the legal experts on the matter. I do not think that the Chairman would do anything which is illegal in the eye of the law,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said that if they had tried to bulldoze the Opposition, then the amendment bill would have been introduced when it was first brought for the consideration of the House on the first day of the session.
Taking a strong exception against the comment of the Opposition leader that the EC had political interests in bringing this amendment bill, the CEM said that it was an open secret that he (PN Syiem) was showing special interest in this amendment bill since it concerned the interest of his brother Kynsai N Syiem.
“We all know that his brother was the Acting Syiem of Hima Bhowal for seven years at a stretch which was totally unjustified. He was unhappy when the EC decided to terminate his brother from the post,” Basaiawmoit said.
The Opposition leader, later, said they would seek the opinion of legal experts before deciding on their future course of action.
“This is the darkest day in the history of the Council as the voice of the members was suppressed by the ruling side only to serve their political interest,” he observed.
Syiem also said that it appears that the Deputy Chairman was being tutored by the CEM (Basaiawmoit) on how to conduct the House.
“The Chairman (Teilinia Thangkhiew) was conspicuous by her absence today. It is looks like she does not want to be part and parcel of the wrongdoings on the part of the EC,” the Opposition leader said.
He also indicated that the Opposition would meet District Council Affairs Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh and Governor K.K. Paul if the EC made any attempt to pass the bill by force.
The Deputy Chairman, on his part, said he has followed the views of the legal experts.
“I am not surprise at the accusations leveled by the Opposition. These things are normal. But I want to make it very clear that I have never been biased with the Opposition,” he added.