DUAL POST
SHILLONG: The state government was caught red faced on Tuesday for not taking action against Congress legislator P N Syiem, who is still continuing as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KHADC despite the Bill debarring MLAs holding MDCs coming into effect from October 1 last year.
More embarrassing situation ensued after Syiem , part of the ruling coalition, during the Question Hour on Tuesday asked the state government whether it has any jurisdiction to implement the Disqualification Act.
He also asked whether there is any plan to amend the dual post Bill passed by the Government last year.
Raising a question, Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) wanted to know why the ruling party member (P N Syiem) continues to hold the post of MDC and why the government did not take any action against him.
Basaiawmoit also questioned as to whether the ruling party failed to rein in the Congress member.
According to the HSPDP legislator it appears that that since the member belongs to the same party, no action was taken against him.
In reply, the Deputy Chief Minister in charge Law Rowell Lyngdoh said, “It depends on whether the individual is law abiding person or not.”
However, Syiem shot back, “I wanted to know whether the individual mentioned violated the law or respected the constitution. Am I the person who violated the law or respected the constitutional provisions”.
However, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the matter was replied a few days ago when the call attention motion in this regard was moved by Witting Mawsor (HSPDP) that the issue is pending with the Election Commission of India after the matter was referred by the Governor. There is nothing to explain as the matter is also pending before the High Court, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said though the Act against holding dual post was passed, the law makers are not the enforcers of law. Whatever actions to follow will depend on the provisions of law, he added.
However, raising a supplementary question, Basaiawmoit said that as one person (Syiem,) is still continuing as member of KHADC, this will mean that “others who resigned from the posts are clowns”.
To a supplementary question by Paul Lyngdoh (UDP), the Deputy Chief Minister said that all citizens are expected to respect the law.
K P Pangniang(HSPDP) raised a question as to who was responsible for seven legislators to quit the post of MDCs.
The Chief Minister intervened and said that the Legislature has only amended the previous Act taking away the immunity enjoyed by the legislators for holding the dual posts. The Chief Minister also added that it was not the job of the government to enforce the law.