RTI activist questions Meghalaya government notification on mid-term election

A REPORTER
SHILLONG, March 11: Shillong based RTI activist and Advisor of Mawmaram village Dispersing Rani on Friday questioned the notification of the State government to conduct by-elections for the vacant MDC seats at KHADC.
It may be reminded that earlier, as many as seven legislators had resigned as MDCs of the KHADC and JHADC in view of the passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly, Meghalaya) ( Amendment) Act, 2015 last year.
Speaking to newsmen here on Friday, Rani said, “There is no rule which empowers the state government to release a notification to conduct Mid-term elections.” Stating that on January 13, 2006, the Supreme Court had ruled that anything which falls under the Sixth schedule should be done as per the rules framed by the district council, he said, even MDCs fall under the Sixth Schedule and if the government conducts elections through the notification then it will become contempt of the decision of the Supreme Court.
He said there is no rule which gives power to the state government to release a notification to conduct a mid-term bye-election. “As mentioned in Chapter III of the Disqualification of members, it states that if any MDC resign from his or her post then the person who came second in the MDC election should fill in the vacant post,” he said adding that the government is playing politics with development and the customary practices of the people.
According to him, the ADCs falls under the Sixth Schedule and the government can’t interfere in their affairs.
He pointed out that due to the resigtion of HDR Lyngdoh, Mawmaram village has become a victim since it has brought grievances to the people when it comes to development. “Last year in view of the revival crusade service of the Presbyterian Church which was to be held at Mawmaram village we had sought some help but with the uvailability of an MDC it made things hard and we were uble to get much help,” he said.