Congress-led MUA govt slammed for delay in passage of Village Administration Bill, 2012
SHILLONG: The youth wings of the Opposition parties in the State have come together in support of KHADC Chief Executive Member Adelbert Nongrum and have slammed the Mukul Sangma- led government for not clearing the Village Administration Bill, 2012 of the KHADC which clearly specifies the powers and function of the Rangbah Shnong.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the youth wings of the opposition parties extended their support to the KHADC chief who is slated to appear before the High Court of Meghalaya on Jan 27 as per the court’s directive.
“The State Government should not have delayed in approving this very important bill. We all understand that the passing of this bill is very critical in view of the court ruling which had questioned the role of the Rangbah Shnong,” the joint statement read.
The statement also urged the legislators from Khasi and Jaintia Hills to persuade the State Government to approve and clear the bill at the earliest.
The FKJGP, meanwhile, maintained that the high court’s decision to dis-empower the Rangbah Shnong will in no way weaken the institution of the Dorbar Shnong or demoralize the indigenous population belonging to the Hynniewtrep community.
“I strongly urge the indigenous Khasi population not to lose hope even at this crunch situation,” FKJGP president Joe Marwein said in statement on Wednesday.
He also asserted that ‘no outside force’ can interfere with the powers and functions (law of the land) bestowed upon the Rangbah Shnong since time immemorial.
The FKJGP president also reminded that even the Union Government shows respect to the customary laws of any community.
“It is for this simple reason that the Centre has never tried to disturb the ongoing practice of the Dorbar Shnong by attempting to bring in the Panchayat system,” he said.
“We strongly oppose the attempt to change the convention being followed in the traditional bodies by bringing in man-made laws which can be challenged in the court of law or which can be amended,” Marwein said.
He also stated that the Rangbah Shnong who heads the executive committee of any Dorbar Shnong has been elected to look after the welfare and interest of the residents and to ensure that peace prevails in his respective locality or village.
“We admit that there are people who are misusing the chair. But the wrong deeds of a few people should not be used as a means to bring down the image of the other Rangbah Shnong who are honestly doing their job,” he said.