SHILLONG, June 20: The state government on Tuesday made it clear that it should not be made to hurry on the issue of selecting an expert panel to review the job reservation policy since whatever decision is taken may have standing repercussions.
“In the interest of protecting our people we need to do it intelligently and patiently and with a lot of insight. We should not be pushed or hurried,” said Law Minister and Chairperson of the Committee on ‘Reservation and Roster System, Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The government has appointed a three-member search committee, headed by Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, to select a five-member expert committee to review the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy of 1972.
She hinted that selecting a constitutional expert in Meghalaya would be difficult task.
“There are no two ways about it. If we do not get experts within the borders of our state then we offer an expression of interest to individuals who can guide this state correctly and with the correct perspectives keeping in mind all legal implications,” Lyngdoh said.
Talking about legal experts, she said, “Do we just need senior advocates or retired judges? Consulting the Law, Personnel and Political departments will take a lot of time and whatever decisions we take should minimise any negative repercussions that will put us in further controversy across this country where there is another kind of a policy that is in operation.”
She said that members of the committee led by her had come to an agreement that they were not competent. “Hence, there was a suggestion for the formation of an expert committee. We will have to leave it at that and at least all political parties are now on the same page,” she added.
She also made it clear that there was a need to rope in legal experts to ensure that the government or the committee does not face any conflict that would not pass the legal scrutiny.
She suggested that civil society groups, pressure groups, or students’ groups may send in their observations on the reservation policy in writing. The policy is very broad and individuals talking about “defects” need to indicate them to the committee.
Talking about the suggestions and points received by her, she said, “I have received some individual one-page or two-page suggestions, some revision that were proposed and a document from KHNAM but other than nothing has come to my table. I don’t know if any document has gone to the Chief Secretary.”
