HC order renders VABs null and void

SHILLONG: The Village Administration Bills of both the KHADC and the JHADC have become futile after the High Court of Meghalaya in its order on Wednesday entrusted the State government to frame a fresh Bill to empower headmen.
While the KHADC VAB is pending with the Union Home Ministry, Governor V. Shanmuganathan had given nod to the VAB of the JHADC before Christmas which was also subsequently notified.
Sources on Thursday said that with the High Court asking the State government to frame a fresh Bill, the implementation of VABs of both the KHADC and the JHADC will have to wait.
However, a day after the High Court order, the State government is undecided on the future course of action.
“We have to consult the Advocate General and legal counsel in the Supreme Court after going through the High Court order before taking any future course of action,” a government official said.
The official further said that the State government framed an ordinance in the past to empower headmen besides planning a Bill, but both attempts were resisted by the traditional heads and district councils leading to the current impasse.
The court order has also resulted in further widening the rift between the State government and the KHADC over the empowerment of headmen which has been pending after the order of       the single Bench of the High Court headed by Justice S.R. Sen in December, 2014 stripped off the powers of headmen.
The KHADC has already decided to move a petition before the Supreme Court, while the State government will further study the order before taking any decision on framing the Bill.