SHILLONG: DD Lapang’s dual role as Nongpoh legislator and Chief Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya has not gone down well with the youth wing of the UDP which has taken up the issue with the Election Commission of India citing that the veteran politician was holding an office of profit.
In fact the youth wing of the opposition party has lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India against Lapang for “holding the office of profit”.
“Lapang has been holding an office of profit which has not been covered by the Prevention of Disqualification Act 1972 of the State (enclosed),” UDP youth wing general secretary Hamlet Dohling stated in the complaint.
“Lapang has been appointed as Chief Advisor to the Government of Meghalaya, with perks and facilities that match those of the Chief Minister ever since the Meghalaya United Alliance formed the government in 2013. This, we feel, attracts the provision of Article 191 of the Constitution of India, which says:(1) A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State- (a) if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State specified in the First Schedule, other than an office declared by the Legislature of the State by law not to disqualify its holder,” Dohling said while demanding action.
As per Prevention of Disqualification Act 1972, there are as many as 16 exemptions which allow MLAs to hold other posts. But the Government recently amended the Act by removing one of the exemptions to ensure that MLAs do not hold the post of CEM or MDCs.
Govt slammed for Draft Bill
Meanwhile, he also slammed the State Government over the ongoing controversy of empowering traditional institutions in the state saying that at one hand, the Chief Minister declared that he and his government had no intention of intruding into the subjects of the Autonomous District Councils while on the other hand they came up with a Draft Bill known as the Meghalaya Grassroots Institutions Governance Act 2015.
“The proposed bill not only intrudes into the subjects of the ADCs but clearly attempts to do away with the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, reducing the traditional bodies to the stature of supplicants and favour seekers before officers of the state government. This is a blatant attempt to uproot our traditional system of governance, which needs to be challenged with all the strength at our command,” he said.
