GHADC set for another extension

Amendment to 6th Schedule to be delayed
SHILLONG: The amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution to increase the seats in District Councils will take longer time as yet again amendment has not been listed for the ongoing session of the Parliament..
This has made the decision of the state government to extend the tenure of GHADC futile as the government was waiting for the amendment to hold elections.
According sources, the draft amendment, which is pending with the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, is yet to be vetted by the department.
The re-assembled session in Parliament, which began on April 21, will end on May 8.
The reason the state government cited for the extension of GHADC for another six months since February was that the Centre was ready with the amendment to the sixth schedule to the constitution which will enable the Government to conduct elections in the increased seats of 40 from the current 30.
Earlier too, when the Budget session started last month, the amendment was not listed in the business of the Parliament.
By the time the monsoon session will convened by the Parliament, the extension of six months will almost expire as the validity of the extended GHADC will be till August 17 next.
When contacted, NPP legislator James Sangma said over phone from Delhi that the State Government had repeatedly banked on the amendment to the Sixth Schedule to extend the tenure of GHADC which has turned out to be a lie.
“As far as NPP is concerned, the Chief Minister lied time and again on the issue of extension of  GHADC tenure. Election should be called immediately and we fear that the Government is trying to stall the elections for the personal benefit of the Chief Minister”, James asserted.