By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 15: The state government is all set to amend an existing law to reduce the qualifying tenure of the MLAs to be eligible to receive pension.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma tabled the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Member’s Pension) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, on the first day of the autumn session on Friday.
As per the amendment bill, the Assembly has proposed to reduce the qualifying tenure of 2 years and 6 months as contained in the proviso to Section 3 (1) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Member’s Pension) Act, 1977.
“The existing provision in Section 3 of the said Act puts a cap of 2 years and 6 months for an MLA to be eligible for pension. In view of this law, members who have served as an MLA for a lesser period were not eligible to receive pension.
“Therefore, the proposal to amend Section 3 of the Act by inserting a new proviso and by giving it retrospective effect is being proposed in the amendment. Additional expenditures will be involved from the consolidated fund of the state while implementing this amendment provision,” Deputy CM in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Prestone Tynsong said.
The CM also tabled the Meghalaya Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Sangma, who also holds charge of Finance and Forest & Environment, presented the supplementary demands for grants and supplementary appropriation for the year 2023-24 and laid the annual report of the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board 2021-22 on the table of the House.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh tabled the Meghalaya Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Ampareen, who holds additional charge of Law, also tabled the National Law University of Meghalaya (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma tabled the Captain Williamson Technical University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Rajitlal University (Repealing) Bill, 2023.
