SHILLONG: In the wake of controversy over the appointment of parliamentary secretaries, the State Cabinet on Wednesday cleared an amended ordinance to do away with a section which equated the rank and status of parliamentary secretaries to that of a minister of state.
Following the cabinet meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong said the Cabinet has decided to delete section 5 from The Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous provisions) Act, 2005 which had equated the rank and status of parliamentary secretaries as that of a minister of state. However, section 6 and 6 (a) will be amended to be incorporated in the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous provisions) Ordinance, 2016.
The Ordinance will be sent to the Governor for approval.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the Cabinet is ensuring its legislative responsibility so that any piece of legislation does not come into conflict with the Constitution.
Asked about legislator Lambok Mylliem, who had resigned as parliamentary secretary, the chief minister said he would talk the former into withdrawing his resignation.
According to the chief minister, there is no need for parliamentary secretaries to resign from their post.
Earlier, the Rules Committee of the Assembly had favoured amendment to the Assembly rules regarding the appointment of parliamentary secretaries. A clause in the Assembly rules had equated the parliamentary secretary with a minister.
The Procedure and Conduct of Business in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly under the title Definitions (h) says “Minister means a member of the council of ministers, a Minister of State, a Deputy Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary”.
However, this goes against constitutional provision as Meghalaya can have only 12 ministers and hence parliamentary secretaries cannot be equated with a minister of state.
