MHA raises 12 queries on KHADC VAB

SHILLONG: The Union Home Ministry had raised as many as 12 queries on Village Administration Bill (VAB) of KHADC after the Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan had referred the matter to the Centre.
An official source said on Thursday that the Centre recently sent back the KHADC-VAB with additional queries and the District Council Affairs department received the Bill on February 9 from the Governor.
Sources said that clarification was sought by the Centre on whether certain clauses in the Bill will come into conflict with Central laws and Constitution.
Earlier, during the meeting with the conglomeration of headmen on Thursday, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma explained the reasons for the delay in the passage of KHADC-VAB.
” The state government had referred back the Bill passed by the KHADC for rectification of a few clauses which were likely to come into conflict with the provisions of the Constitution. However, since the KHADC had not complied on the rectification, the Bill was forwarded to the Governor for his assent”, the Chief Minister had said.
The Chief Minister said that after the office of the Governor had referred the Bill to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for examination from the constitutional and legal perspective, the state received the observations of MHA through the office of the Governor.
According to the Chief Minister, the State Government would respond to the points raised by MHA and assured that all necessary engagements with the KHADC in this regard would be done on top priority.