UDP cautions Govt against bringing legislation on traditional bodies

SHILLONG: The Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has asked the State Government to refrain from bringing any legislation with regards to the traditional bodies in the State despite the earlier direction of the Meghalaya High Court which called for a suitable and comprehensive legislation on the functioning of the traditional institutions and their heads.
Following a meeting of the UDP with the headmen of Shillong, party working president, Bindo M Lanong told media persons here on Saturday that the power to formulate such laws rests with the autonomous district councils (ADCs) and the direction of the court was completely “unacceptable”.
Lanong also recollected that the Government had in the past withdrawn its ordinance to empower traditional bodies.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya High Court in its judgment had directed the State Government to bring a comprehensive legislation on the functioning of the traditional institutions and their heads.
Lanong informed that it was decided in the meeting that a delegation of UDP legislators will meet the state government to demand the immediate convening of a Special Session of the State Assembly to deliberate on the High Court ruling on headmen and issues related to the Village Administration Bill.
The meeting also decided to suggest the three ADCs – KHADC, JHADC and GHADC- to have a joint sitting on the matter.
The former deputy chief minister, Lanong, also said that “whenever necessary, an appeal should be urgently filed either in the Supreme Court or the High Court against the recent ruling.”
A meeting with all political parties will also be convened soon to take a collective decision on the course of action on this issue, the UDP working president said.