CEM on nominated MDC: Govt has no say on Council affairs
SHILLONG: The ongoing war between the state government and KHADC on the issue nominated MDC has escalated further with the Council chief PN Syiem coming down heavily on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for nominating Irene Lyngdoh, an ex-MLA, for the post.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Syiem while questioning the state Government’s move to send Irene’s name to the Governor for approval said, “Article 163 of the Indian Constitution states that the State Government can advice the Governor only on state-related matters not the on the affairs of the district councils.”
The state government had decided to forward Lyngdoh’s name as the nominated MDC after the Governor had sent back the proposal suggesting two names J Reenbohn, a retired District Council Court Judge, who was proposed by the KHADC and Irene Lyngdoh proposed by the government.
However on Thursday, the state cabinet again decided send back Lyngdoh’s name to the governor.
According to Syiem, Under Rule 6 (1) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 (Paragraph 2(1) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution), the power to appoint nominated members is vested with the Governor.
Terming the recommendation of the state cabinet as illegal and unconstitutional, Syiem said, “Under the Sixth Schedule and the Constitution of District Council, such an aid and advice by the council of ministers in the matter of appointment of a nominated member of KHADC is illegal and unconstitutional.”
The KHADC CEM also criticized the government’s decision to propose the name of Lyngdoh relying on the proposal of District Council Affairs department which states that ‘a woman should be the nominated MDC since the KHADC has only two women MDCs’.
Commenting on this, Syiem questioned that even during Gabriel Wahlang’s tenure as Deputy Chairman of KHADC in 2015, no such appointment for women nominated MDC was made by the Government.