SHILLONG: In an apparent move to strengthen the Law department, the Meghalaya government has decided to set up a strong legislative cell, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma informed on Thursday.
“We felt the need to have a strong legislative cell after looking into the actual overall establishment in the Law department. This initiative is a part of the proposal to strengthen the department,” the Chief Minister told newsmen after meeting a delegation of KHADC MDCs led by their Chief Executive Member Adelbert Nongrum here.
Directions in this regard were given to officials of the department during a review meeting last month, he stated.
Assuring to take necessary steps to expedite the process of clearing around 21 bills of the KHADC pending with the State government, the Chief Minister said that the Law department’s job was not restricted to examining and clearing bills forwarded by the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
“The Law department has to attend to various existing laws which are required in the context of bringing an amendment. The department also follows up various other litigations of the concerned line departments which are pending in the court,” the Chief Minister added.
He observed that there was a need to set up the legislative cell by ensuring that it had enough manpower to fulfill its tasks.
The Chief Minister, further, stated that he had directed the District Council Affairs department to find out whether their existing manpower was enough or if there was any need to augment the strength.
Speaking on the pending bills the Chief Minister said, “The DCA department will hold a meeting with the KHADC to discuss the various pending bills. Both the department will share information which shall be attended to in a time bound manner.”
The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that the various pending bills should not come into conflict with the existing laws passed by Parliament or the State Assembly before they are sent to the Governor for his assent.
Meanwhile, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum informed that around 21 bills passed by the KHADC were pending clearance from the State government since 1994.
“We have arrived at a consensus that there will be close coordination between the State government and the KHADC to ensure that the pending bills are processed at the earliest,” the KHADC chief said.
Incidentally, Thursday’s meeting also discussed the fate of eight bills passed the KHADC which were pending approval of the Governor.
The bills include the Regulation and Registration of Marriage and Divorce Bill, 2005, the United Khasi Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non Tribals) (Eight Amendment) Regulation Bill, 2011, the Nomination and Election of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem and Electors of Nongstoin Syiemship (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Allotment, Occupation or Use or Setting Apart of Land Bill, 2014, among others.
