TURA: The Congress-led Executive Committee (EC) in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has announced the setting up of a Select Committee to review the Codification of Garo Customary Law Bill after it was returned to the Council by the State Law Department.
In the midst of strong opposition from the opposition NPP alliance over the setting up of a committee, the ruling Congress was able to pass the motion by a voice vote on Wednesday afternoon, the last day of the session.
The Select committee is to comprise of five MDCs led by Jogonsing D Sangma of the Congress as its chairman. The other members are leader of the Opposition and former CEM Denang T Sangma (NPP), current deputy CEM Wenison Ch Marak (GNC), Executive member Kenedik S Marak (Ind), and Rightious N Sangma.
Interestingly, even before the committee is to begin its work, NPP member Denang T Sangma has announced that he would not be a party to the decision to review the Customary Law Bill.
“I am going to resign from the committee because how can I be a party to it when it was under my CEM tenure that we had passed the Bill and I have been opposing the decision of the government to return the Bill for a review,” said Denang T Sangma.
Earlier, when the names of the members for the committee were announced, the former CEM had asked that his name be exempted from the list.
Deputy Chairman of GHADC, Mettrinson G Momin, who conducted the session announced that the select committee would submit its report to the House before the next session which is due in a few months time.
Supporting the motion for the setting up of the select committee, chief executive member (CEM) Boston Ch Marak said the role of the select committee would be to examine the Bill and take necessary steps for its rectification before bringing it to the house for discussion.
“We are not opposing the Bill, but since it has been sent back to us it is our duty to look into the issue,” said the CEM while also citing legal orders passed by the Shillong Bench of the Guwahati High Court, in earlier times.
He was supported by Jimbert Goera R Marak of the GNC, Sadhiarani Sangma of the Congress Jogonsing D Sangma (Congress), Wenison Ch Marak (GNC), Kenedik S Marak (Ind) from the ruling alliance.
