By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 26: Leader of Opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Titosstarwell Chyne on Tuesday said he will seek the opinion of a legal expert on how the Executive Committee (EC) of the Council allegedly flouted the rules for conduct of business by forcibly passing the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 during the special session on Monday.
Questioning the urgency in passing the bill, Chyne said the EC created a wrong precedence by indulging in “illegal and unparliamentary” practices inside the House. The EC in KHADC is led by National People’s Party.
“If they do such things inside the House, then one can understand what they indulge in outside,” Chyne said.
He further said that he will write to KHADC chairman, Lamphrang Blah to seek a clarification on why the rules of conduct of business were flouted.
“I may even write to the Governor and highlight how the EC went ahead in passing the amendment bill without listening to the suggestions and views of the opposition MDCs,” Chyne said.
He said the members had no time to study the amendment bill since it was circulated on the morning of the first day of the special session on Friday.
“It has been a convention that there will be a discussion between ruling and opposition parties ahead of a session. But this time around, even the list of business was not provided to the members,” he said.
Chyne also said that they had made a suggestion to refer the ‘defective’ bill to the Select Committee after claiming that several of its provisions are in conflict with the Acts of the various Himas.
“We understand that it is a group in a majority and it has an upper hand inside the House. I was aware that my amendment motion would be defeated if there is voting. It is for this reason that we decided to stage a walkout as a mark of protest,” Chyne said.
He said the most interesting part was that the EC decided to refer the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Nomination, Election and Appointment of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Lyngdoh, Myntri, Sordar and Administration of Nongkhlaw Syiemship) Bill, 2023 to the Select Committee although no amendment motion was moved against it.
“The House cannot refer the bill to the Select Committee just by a mere suggestion of a member from the ruling side. This is a glaring example of how the present EC flouted the rules for conduct of business,” he said.
According to him, the bill should have been considered, clause by clause, and then passed by the House.
“The present EC is making a mockery of the whole system. How can it violate the procedure followed even by the Assembly and the Parliament?” he asked.