‘Meghalaya Benami Bill not in gazette form’
SHILLONG: The CSWO and the People’s Mission, who were present in the meeting to review matters relating to influx and infiltration on Friday has raised objections to the introduction and discussion on the Meghalaya (Benami Transaction Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2016 which is intended to be introduced in the coming session of the Meghalaya legislative Assembly as the original Meghalaya (Benami Transaction Prohibition)Act 1980 in gazette form was not provided by the Law Department even in the meeting.
“Instead the Secretary Law Department has challenged the CSWO to take them to the High Court when asked why the Act in gazette form was missing”, a statement issued by CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing said.
When a question was raised to the Additional Chief Secretary K S Kropha, if the document shown by the Law Secretary was a legal document, he did not reply and said it was for the Law Secretary to confirm. Even the Chief Minister and other law makers including the Deputy Chief Minister in charge Law who are law makers, did not raise queries as to how such important documents which should have been kept in safe custody of the government are missing.
“The Chief Minister instead only said that this happens and we had earlier written to the Chief Minister about the missing Acts and demanded a CBI Inquiry but no reply was given. When referring to this in the meeting the Chief Minister instead felt that they did not feel the need to reply”, CSWO said.
The CSWO reiterated that since the original Meghalaya (Benami Transaction Prohibition) Amendment Bill is missing, the Bill should not be introduced,
“There is a grave Constitutional fraud committed on the people of the State and more than 100 Acts are tampered and they are available only in plain paper with no official emblem”, CSWO alleged
The organization lso sought striking off section 3 of the Meghalaya Tenants Verification and Regulation Bill, 2016 which grants exemption to any house or rental unit owned by the Central or State Government or a Government under-taking from the purview of the Bill.