Govt tables Ordinance in Assembly

Mukul says talks on draft Bill on empowering traditional institutions to continue

SHILLONG: The State government on Wednesday tabled the Meghalaya Local Administration (empowerment of traditional institutions, traditional bodies and headmen in governance and public delivery system) Ordinance, 2015 on the first day of the autumn session of the Assembly.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, however, told the Assembly that the government would continue to consult political parties before introducing the draft Bill to empower traditional institutions.
The State Government has placed the Ordinance to empower headmen in the Assembly, but it will lapse if a Bill is not introduced in the House. The Ordinance will be effective only till October 28.
Once an Ordinance is notified, it is mandatory on the part of the Government to lay it in Assembly as the Ordinance was notified when the House was not in session.
Earlier, as soon as the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge law Rowell Lyngdoh placed the Ordinance in House, the leader of Opposition Donkupar  Roy stood up to know about the next move of the Government.
In reply, Lyngdoh said that the next move would be to try and consult with all the political parties in the state.
Roy intervened and said that Ordinance has to be brought in the form of a Bill for continuity.
The Chief Minister said that the Government had the privilege of discussing the draft Bill with a few political parties.
“I have spoken to the Leader of Opposition in this regard. The Government did not intend to introduce a regular Bill to allow the legislative mandate of this Ordinance and moreover, we kept options open to have consultations with political parties before finalizing the Bill and we will continue to do so”, Sangma said.
It may be mentioned that only a few political parties attended the meeting convened by the Government in this regard which compelled the Chief Minister to have further discussions with political parties.