SHILLONG: Headmen have set a deadline till the first week of December for the government to invite them for talks on the much-delayed passing of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015.
Speaking to media persons after a meeting of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) on Saturday, association chief Werlock Kharshiing said they wanted to have a meeting with the state government and also the KHADC on the status of the VAB.
Recalling the meeting held between the state government and the Synjuk on August 31 last year, Kharshiing said Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had assured that he would convene another meeting with representatives of the KHADC and the Synjuk to discuss on the way forward.
After the August 31 meeting, Sangma had suggested the KHADC to recall VAB and take necessary measures to amend certain clauses and pave way for the same to become an Act.
However, the KHADC under the leadership of the incumbent chief executive member PN Syiem had maintained that it was not ready as it was waiting for MHA’s response to its replies on the 12-point queries.
Kharshiing lamented that the state government has not taken any initiative to write to the KHADC on the matter.
SNSBH general secretary RL Blah said the delay in approving VAB “is due to the lack of political will”.
Blah pointed out that the then governor V Shanmuganathan had failed to act as per Para 3 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which states that it is the governor’s prerogative to approve or disapprove a Bill.
“The governor who had granted assent to VAB passed by the JHADC in December 2015, is the same
person who had instead forwarded the VAB passed by the KHADC to the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.
The Village Administration Bill was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in 2015 to empower the traditional institutions and their heads.
