Residents Safety Bill: Committee makes changes

SHILLONG: The Select Committee on the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Bill, 2016, has brought some amendments, including a facilitation centre for effective enforcement of laws for the safety and security of citizens.
The Committee deleted the existing word “to ensure safe travel on the road” from the preamble of the Act and added “and such land on rent or lease for the purpose of residing or any commercial activity by a person other than owner of the land” to Section 2 of the Act. This was revealed in the report of the Select Committee that was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.
The Committee in Section 2 (G) of the Act substituted the definition clause of ‘Local Authority’ and in the new definition, local authority means and include traditional tribal bodies – Nokma, Sordar, Syiem, Sirdar (Sardar), Doloi, Wahehshnong, Wahadadar, Lyngdoh and Rangbah Shnong of Garo Hills, Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and any other such body constituted as per the traditions, customs and practices in tribal areas and other authorities that may be notified by the government or the deputy commissioner of the district.
The amendment to Section 3 of the Act mandates all persons residing in rented houses to furnish to both the police station and the local authority necessary documents.
The District Task Force under Section 5 will have two non-official members, one from the local authority and the other from among the prominent citizens of the district to be appointed by the government.
Under Section 11 (3) of the Act, the landlord should be punishable under Section 176 of the Indian Penal Code on expiry of the period specified under sub-section 2 of Section 11 of the Act.
Section 18 (3) of the Act also says the facilitation centre should ensure that no citizen of India be put to inconvenience or restrained from exercising his rights guaranteed under the Constitution.