Govt contemplating filing review petition or appeal against ruling
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday said the Law department which is examining the recent ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya on traditional institutions will present their views on the matter before the government on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons after a Cabinet meeting, the chief minister said based on the views of the Law department, the government will take a call on whether to file a review petition or appeal before the Court.
According to the chief minister, the Law department was asked to examine the High Court order from both legal as well as constitutional aspects and they have completed their exercise.
Earlier, the High Court of Meghalaya in its ruling had recommended that the State government should bring in a suitable and comprehensive legislation to settle the controversies connected with the issue once and for all.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice T.N.K. Singh had said that until a suitable legislation or an Ordinance during the pendency of the Bill, is brought by the State government, the directions passed by the single Bench headed by Justice S.R. Sen on December 10, 2014, will remain in force.
The Court also observed that the traditional institution of headman needs to be brought within the purview of the provisions of the Right to Information Act since this institution acts as a tool of governance at the grassroots level and is also being assigned an important role in implementing various programmes and schemes of the Central government as well as the State.
