SHILLONG, April 8: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Alexander L Hek on Friday said gaps in governance in Meghalaya have made the judiciary step in every now and then.
The BJP is a minor partner of the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
Hek said he had never before in his 25 years as a politician seen the judiciary intervene so often.
“I have been from one government to another and I have not seen the judiciary stepping in like this. We are wrong somewhere or else, why will the judiciary step in?” he said.
“We have to introspect where we have gone wrong,” he added.
Over the past few weeks, the High Court of Meghalaya has been issuing orders and questioning the government on several issues, ranging from traffic congestion and drug supply to illegal coal mining and the recruitment process.
Suspended Congress Legislature Party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh defended the state government.
“There are four pillars of democracy – legislature, executive, judiciary and media – to check and balance each other. This is not unusual and is happening everywhere in the country,” she said.
She said people often go to court to seek justice for any issue.
“I will not say the political system is failing but our democracy allows a scrutiny of the legislators or the executive by the judiciary or vice versa,” Lyngdoh added.
She felt the political system needs to be tightened and not changed for ensuring people enjoy their rights.