SHILLONG: Opposition leader and UDP president Donkupar Roy on Wednesday asked the government to dissolve the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) since the six-month extension of term for the Council was not serving any purpose.
“Since the term of GHADC was extended and holding of election was delayed pending the proposed amendment to the Constitution, the district council should be dissolved immediately,” Roy said during Question Hour.
District Council Affairs Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh acknowledged the points raised by the Opposition Leader.
NPP’s James Sangma pointed out that the amendment Bill aimed at increasing the strength of the GHADC was not tabled in the Parliament exposing the futility of the term extension.
The Chief Minister, however, said that the issue of Constitutional amendment was raised with the Centre and the matter would be taken up again if there is no positive response.
He also said that it was after the Ministry of Home Affairs asked the state government to defer the elections in GHADC pending the Constitutional amendment that the state government extended the tenure.
Earlier, quoting relevant rules, Independent legislator Saleng Sangma said that there was no emergency that warranted extension of the GHADC tenure.
