SHILLONG: The State Government has denied reports about Union government deciding on increase of seats to the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya.
A senior government official said on Monday that first of all, the Parliament has to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to pave way for the increase of seats in the councils.
According to the official, the matter cannot be decided by the Union Home Ministry as this requires legislative decision and measures.
Meanwhile, the State Chief Secretary K S Kropha said that the Parliament is still debating the Presidents’ address and it is yet to be known whether the amendment to the constitution is in the agenda of the Government or not. Council elections The Chief Secretary also made it clear that there was no legal hurdle to hold the bypolls to the seven vacant seats in the District Council as the MDCs had resigned from the posts and subsequently their resignations were accepted and notified. It was following the dual post Bill that seven legislators had resigned from the posts of MDC, whereas KHADC CEM P N Syiem continues to hold the posts of MDC as well as MLA. The byelection is likely to be held in April and the Cabinet may take a decision in this regard after the Assembly session.
