By Our Reporter
SHIILONG: Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary refused to give ascent to the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill 2013 and reserved it for the consideration of the President of India.
The controversial Police Bill was passed by the Government during the Budget session early this year.
The Bill, if implemented, will prevent senior Meghalaya Police officials (Assam-Meghalaya Cadre), who are serving at the rank and pay of Meghalaya DGP in the State and elsewhere in the country, from becoming the next Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP).
The Bill will also prevent the present DG (Prisons) Kulbir Krishan and the likes from becoming the State DGP.
According to an official source, the Governor returned the Bill to the Government by saying ” it is reserved for the consideration of the President”.
There was no discussion when the Government passed the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the Assembly in April. Even the Opposition members did not register a protest when the Bill was passed.
According to the amended Bill, “Once an officer (otherwise eligible for consideration) is appointed to a post in the rank and pay of Director General of Police anywhere, he should not be considered for the inclusion in the panel of names again”.
However, this will prevent senior and efficient police officers from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre from becoming Meghalaya Police chief. The passing of the Bill has also violated the IPS rules.
The Governor, who is also a former IPS officer, understood the lacunae in the Meghalaya Police (Amendment) Bill and hence did not give ascent to it.
The Congress led Government amended the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010 to add a provision to be included in the new Bill which highlights that, “the name of any officer, who has been appointed to a post either under the Central
Government or any State Government in the rank and pay of Director General of Police, shall not be considered for inclusion in the panels to be prepared by the State Security Commission.”
