Lapang may escape disqualification

SHILLONG: Though the UDP has petitioned the Election Commission of India demanding disqualification of former Chief Minister and sitting MLA D.D. Lapang for holding the post of Chief Adviser to the State government, an official with the Law department on Wednesday said as per the provision of the Prevention of Disqualification Act, 1972, there is a mention that a legislator can hold other offices too.
However, according to the complaint lodged by the youth wing of UDP, Lapang has been holding an office of profit  which has not been covered by the Prevention of Disqualification Act, 1972 of the State.
The Act highlights that there are as many as 16 exemptions which allow MLAs to hold other posts. But the State government has amended the Act by deleting one of the exemptions to ensure that MLAs do not hold the post of CEM or MDCs.
The amended Act of 2015 is effective from October 1.