SHILLONG: The method of empowerment of headmen by the state government has come under flak with former Deputy Chief Minister in charge law, Bindo Lanong saying that state cabinet has okayed a lame duck ordinance which has no legal sanction.
Lanong, who had also served as KHADC CEM and MDC in the past said on Monday that there is no provision of law for the state government to bring out an ordinance as only the district council has such absolute power.
“I want to know under which provision of the law, the state government can make law for an autonomous body which is the purely recognized by Constitution”, Lanong said , adding that para 3 (5) of Sixth Schedule is specific about the powers of district councils with respect to the appointment of chiefs and headmen. He added that the ordinance will not stand the test of time.
If the district council challenges the ordinance in the Court, it will be scrapped as the ordinance is null and void, he added.
Lanong also pointed out that the cabinet meeting was attended only by 50 percent of members as many ministers were absent.
Lanong, who is also a member of the Government appointed Committee to institutionalize headmen, wondered as to the delay in convening the meeting to discuss the matter.
It was on March 2 that the Government convened a meeting and subsequently instituted nearly 50 member committee headed by former Chief Minister DD Lapang giving time of two months to submit report on empowerment of headmen, but in vain as not a single meeting was convened and the Government has violated its own decision by agreeing to an ordinance without convening the meeting of the committee, Lanong added.
