Bindo flays CM, Hoping over draft headmen Bill

SHILLONG: UDP working president Bindo Lanong has criticized the statement of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma that the Legislature can enact any law including the one to empower the traditional institutions.
Referring to the statement of the chief minister made on Wednesday, Lanong said that even though the Legislature has the power to enact any law within the State List, it cannot encroach into the jurisdiction of autonomous district councils.
While supporting the stand of KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem for framing separate rules to empower traditional institutions, Lanong said that the move of the Government to enact a law is an attempt to take away the powers of the councils which deal with the subject matter.
“If the state government is making laws for Headmen, Dolloi, Nokma and others, then it    would be better for the Government to abolish the district councils”, he said. Lanong, who is a former Deputy Chief Minister in charge Law, has expressed surprise over the stand taken by HSPDP veteran H.S. Lyngdoh by attending the government meeting to discuss a state law to empower traditional institutions.
“Hopingstone was the main architect who opposed Para 12 A of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution which gave ultimate power to State Government over the laws passed by the District Councils,” Lanong pointed out.
According to Lanong, the HSPDP leader has now given up his stand by attending the meeting on the Bill to be framed by the Government bypassing the councils.