Denang refuses to be part of bill review panel

TURA: The Congress-led Executive Committee in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has announced setting up of a Select Committee to review the Codification of Garo Customary Law Bill after the Law Department returned it to the council.
In the midst of strong opposition from the NPP alliance over forming the committee, the ruling Congress was able to pass the motion by a voice vote on Wednesday afternoon, the last day of the session.
The five-member Select Committee will be led by Jogonsing D Sangma of the Congress.
The other members are leader of the opposition and former CEM Denang T Sangma (NPP), current deputy CEM Wenison Ch Marak (GNC), Executive member Kenedik S Marak (Independent), and Righteous N Sangma.
However, even before the committee is to begin its work, NPP member Denang T Sangma announced that he would not be a party to the decision to review the bill.
“I am going to resign from the committee because how can I be a party to it when it was under my tenure as CEM that we had passed the bill and I have been opposing the decision of the government to return the bill for a review,” said Denang.
Earlier, when the names of the members for the committee were announced, the former CEM had asked that his name be exempted from the list.
Deputy Chairman of GHADC Mettrinson G Momin, who conducted the session, announced that the select committee would submit its report to the house before the next session which is due in a few months’ time.
Supporting the motion for setting up the committee, CEM Boston Ch Marak said its role would be to examine the bill and take necessary steps for its rectification before bringing it to the House for discussion.
“We are not opposing the bill but since it has been sent back to us it is our duty to look into the issue,” said the CEM while also citing legal orders passed by the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court.
He was supported by Jimbert Goera R Marak and Wenison Ch Marak of GNC, Sadhiarani Sangma and Jogonsing D Sangma of the Congress, and independent Kenedik S Marak from the ruling alliance.