Govt showed eagerness to pass Amendment Bill without consideration: KHADC CEM
SHILLONG: KHADC MDCs, cutting across party lines, have questioned the timing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 by the State Government, and at the same time accusing the Government of forcing the KHADC to incur additional expenses by holding bye-elections to seven constituencies.
“We feel that the State Government has passed this amendment bill in a rush without consulting the Council and the concerned stakeholders. The Government could have waited and implemented the bill after end of the present term,” KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem said after conducting a meeting here on Monday attended by MDCs from all parties.
Quoting Entry IX of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Act, 1973, the KHADC CEM said the Act has given special protection to the chief executive member, executive members, chairman, deputy chairman and MDCs.
“But the Government suddenly decided to come up with an amendment bill and that too in the middle of the term. What is more surprising is that the Government passed the amendment bill in the House within three days of it being approved by the Cabinet,” Syiem said.
The KHADC chief also accused the Government of imposing undue financial burden on the Council by passing the amendment bill. “The Council will not be able to afford bye-elections in seven constituencies,” Syiem said, while adding that the State Government itself was in a tight spot as far as managing its own expenses was concerned.
“The Government should have considered the financial implications before passing the amendment bill,” the KHADC chief added.
The KHADC has also decided to move the Governor demanding an increase in the share of royalty on minerals of the Council from 25 per cent to 60 per cent.
According to the CEM, increase in the share of royalty on minerals would help the Council to manage its finances.
