SHILLONG: The jumbo-sized Committee of 50 members constituted by the State Government to recommend a legislative bill for ‘institutionalization of traditional institutions’ in the State has decided to urge the State Government to give its assent to the Village Administration Bill, 2014 passed by both the KHADC and JHADC at the earliest.
The Chairman of the committee DD Lapang told newsmen after the first meeting of the Committee here on Wednesday that the timeframe fixed for the Committee to compile its report is three months.
Lapang said that if the Government is in favour of giving its assent to the Bill then it should make its decision known at the earliest.
“If the Government detects flaws in the Bill then it should have the courage to say that it cannot be passed in its present form. It is a not a good practice to linger on with such a sensitive issue,” Lapang said.
He also informed the Committee has been briefed by some Cabinet Ministers who were present in the meeting that the Bill passed by the two councils needs some rectification.
Lapang, however, felt that the District Councils too are also responsible for the delay since it is has been observed that the Councils are slow in answering the queries raised by the Government.
Lapang also admitted that the undefined powers and authority of the Rangbah Shnong and their present predicament has created confusion for the people within the Dorbar Shnong.
He said the present stalemate has to end at the earliest. He also informed that the Committee also discussed the Ordinance passed by the Cabinet.
“There was a delay in getting the assent of the Governor on the Ordinance since he assumed office only today,” Lapang said, adding that the Ordinance is a secret document unless it gets the assent of the Governor.
He however stated that Ordinance would be put up in the public domain once it is approved by the Governor.
“The people are then free to give their suggestions on the Ordinance,” Lapang said.
Justifying the decision of the Government to come up with the Ordinance, he said that the it was an imperative to address the present exigency.
“The life of span of the Ordinance is six months. The Government will have to introduce the Bill in the Assembly within this period to make it into a law,” Lapang informed.
He said that the Committee has also decided to co-opt Advocate General KS Kynjing and Additional Advocate General WHD Syngkon as legal experts to advice on the Constitutional aspects of the Bill.
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for the middle of June.
Meanwhile some members who attended the first meeting of the Committee said there was utter chaos and wondered if anything would come out of such meeting in future.
