Asks Govt to complete formalities within two weeks
SHILLONG: The KHADC has urged the State Government to approve the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 within two weeks. “We are hopeful that the State Government would give due consideration to the request of the Council to complete the whole exercise concerning the bill including getting assent of the Governor within two weeks’ time,” KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum told newsmen after an all-party meeting here on Friday.The meeting was attended by MDCs of the Congress, UDP, HSPDP, KHNAM and lone independent woman member Grace Mary Kharpuri.
Nongrum, further, claimed that there was no justification on the part of the Government to continue to hold on to the bill which was passed about seven months back.”If the Government feels that there are flaws in the bill then it should have immediately reverted back to the Council for rectification,” he said.Nongrum also observed that passage of the bill was relevant in view of the recent ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya which had questioned the role of the traditional heads in the State.Nongrum informed that the bill aims to streamline, protect and empower the traditional institutions especially the Dorbar Shnong in conformity with the prevailing traditional system and customs of the Khasi community.
The KHADC chief also warned that he would mobilize a joint delegation of all the MDCs and approach the Chief Minister if the bill was not cleared within two weeks.Nongrum also rejected the idea of recalling the bill for redrafting purposes.”I am satisfied with the existing bill. The Council has spent more than three years in drafting the village administration bill. If there is any necessity, we can bring amendments later,” he said.Speaking on the discrepancies in the bill pointed out by the Sub-Committee constituted by the traditional heads and the UDP headed by Bindo M Lanong, Nongrum said that necessary amendments would be brought about later.”Our main focus at the moment is to get the Governor’s assent at the earliest,” he added.