Wait for VAB clearance prolongs
SHILLONG: Governor V Shanmuganathan has written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking his views on the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015 passed by the KHADC on May 30 last.
According to sources, the Governor also apprised Singh on various aspects of the VAB.
“He (Shanmuganathan) met Union Home Minister on August 7 last to apprise on this matter. The Governor then again wrote on August 31 seeking a few clarifications on the matter,” sources said here on Thursday.
Sources also informed that in his letter to the Union Home Minister, the Governor referred to the ruling of the Meghalaya High Court on December 10, 2014 which had questioned the functioning of the Rangbah Shnong.
By referring to the ruling, the Governor in his letter also mentioned that the court had stated that the Rangbah Shnong do not have any powers to issue residential certificates or certificates of permission for construction of buildings, registration of sale deeds, electric connections and other matters unless empowered by law, sources said.
“My intention of referring this Bill to your good office is to seek your further advice and suggestion on the constitutional validity of the proposed Bill before the same is sent back to the State Government and the Autonomous District Council for necessary rectifications,” the Governor had stated in his letter.
The KHADC had passed the bill on May 30 after deleting certain sections from the original KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2012 as recommended by the State Government.
The deletion of the two sections from the original VAB was strongly opposed by the opposition alliance in the KHADC and also by various pressure groups.
In fact, the Governor conveyed to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma that it was necessary that all provisions incorporated in the Bill are constitutionally valid since it might have a ‘wider ramifications’.
“I would like to give my assent to the bill only if I am satisfied that the provisions in the bill are constitutionally valid,” the Governor had told the Chief Minister.
The Governor also pointed out that it is important that the Bill, when enacted, is able to withstand judicial scrutiny, even as he mentioned that the Advocate General too has certain reservations on the Bill.
The Governor apprised Sangma that he has received eight representations against the proposed Bill, which have been referred to the State Government for comments, which are still awaited.
