Strike down Parliamentary Secretaries Act, HSPDP tells Governor
A REPORTER
SHILLONG, April 21: A delegation of HSPDP leaders, led by its president and legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, today met Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmugathan to ensure that the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2005 is struck down.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Basaiawmoit said that the meeting with the Governor was very fruitful and the Governor has assured to examine the matter thoroughly and act accordingly.
“What we have demanded is that the relevant provision C of the article which states that an Act of the Legislature of the State containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have been invalid unless, it received the assent of the President,” Basaiawmoit said adding that as of now the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries act has become invalid.
He also said that under the ordince only the particular clause 5 has been removed from the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries act but the same provision which includes the West Bengal Parliamentary Secretaries including the Himachal (Appointment, Salaries, Allowance and Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2012 has become invalid after the court ruling.
“We have also apprised the Governor relating to the ordince and the Governor has also said that he will also have to look at it if there is a way that the ordince can be accepted,” he said adding that the HSPDP hopes that the state government does not force thing which are unconstitutiol.
“We hope the Governor would give fair judgment even to matters relating to the ordince,” he added.
Referring to the resigtion of one of the parliamentary secretaries, the HSPDP leader said, “Instead of facilitating the others to do the same, the government has brought this ordince to protect them.” “This act of the state government will only bring great fincial crisis including the fincial budget of the state government since the government is facing fincial constraints,” he said. He also said that they have question Governor that even if the government brings amendment, what will be the role and functions of these parliamentary secretaries because just by deleting the clause 5 they still have no functions at all.
