BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary Threatens To Move Court Over ‘Transferred Subjects’

KOKRAJHAR: In a new twist, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary on Tuesday said that he will be compelled to move the court if the Rules/Bills passed in BTC Legislative Assembly fails to get the nod of the Governor. The signature of the Governor is essential for bringing in any Act on the subjects transferred to the Council. He, however, hoped that the much awaited BTC Rules and Bills would be assigned by the Governor as early as possible so that his Council could enact laws on the transferred departments.

In the Council Budget session that began from Tuesday, Opposition member Maothi Brahma Hazoary questioned as to why 23 Rules and Bills passed in the Council Legislative Assembly since 2005 had not been assigned by the Governor. He also questioned as to why the ruling BPF has failed to impress upon the Governor to get the BTC Rules assigned.

The BPF was an ally for at least 12 years during the Congress tenure and now it is part of the BJP-led Government.

Hagrama Mohilary also charged that “if the BPF was treated as kingmaker in the coalition Government than there should not be any hurdle in getting the Governor’s signatures on the Rules and Bills of the Council”. He also said, “it was a matter of shame that the Council has been running without law or Act since the first elected Council started functioning from 2005”.

Later replying to queries of reporters, Mohilary said: “for 40 departments of the BTC, the Council has so far, sent as many as 23 Bills for Governor’s assignment but till date, only one Bill has been assigned for making an Act.” He said, “the matter was discussed with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of top bureaucrats of Dispur but nothing has happened”. He also said that “the authority which is looking after the law segment of the Council suggested moving the court over the issue a year back”. He also admitted that “the BTC was running without any proper Act on its transferred subjects”.

Hagrama Mohilary warned that he will be “compelled to move the court if the Rules and Bills of the BTC fail to get assignments of the Governor as early as possible” as they have “waited for long to enact the respective laws on the transferred subjects”. “We often feel we are in a dilemma when the Rules and Bills of BTC are being dropped since the beginning of the elected Council, and in such a circumstance we are helpless but to seek legal help”, he said, adding that “some powers vested upon the BTC were being violated”. He also alleged that “officers at Dispur give no responsibility towards the Bills although they show the right gestures during meetings”. He further said that he will “move the Cabinet and call to bring all the 23 Rules and Bills of the BTC in the State Cabinet meeting if the officials fail to provide a positive response”. And if that approach to fails, then he would be left with no option other than seeking legal help, Hagrama Mohilary pointed out.

It may be mentioned that the Governor of Assam, Jagadish Mukhi was questioned by Kokrajhar reporters during his visit to Kokrajhar in August last year as to why the BTC Rules and Bills have not been signed by him. In his reply, Mukhi said that he had “no idea of such Rules and Bills pending on his table”, adding that “such Bills were not available with him”. The Governor’s reply indicated that the Rules and Bills of the BTC could have been lying somewhere at Dispur.

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