Mukul seeks action against violation of constitutional provision

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 23, 2020

SHILLONG: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has alleged the state government of committing “serious violation” against the constitutional provision during the recently held special session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Sangma has submitted a letter to the Governor RN Ravi and Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on January 21, for taking necessary action on the serious lapse to fulfill the requirement of the provision of the Article 176 (1) of the Constitution of India.

The former chief minister also expressed regret of his inability to attend the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) on January 14, due to unavoidable circumstances.

“However, the constitutional provision regarding special address by the Governor as required under Article 176 (1) should have been part of the proceedings and the government represented by the minister in-charge parliamentary affairs and the Assembly secretariat could not have overlooked such important constitutional requirement,” Sangma said.

He said this constitutional requirement could not have eluded the attention of the state government because in the event of the commencement of the first session of each year, the Governor has to address and “the Governor Address” has to be prepared and approved by the State Cabinet before sending to the Hon’ble Governor and subsequent printing.

“I was taken by surprise only after reaching the House & seeing the calendar for the session and the list of business for the day. Raising the matter in the House yesterday would have been a serious embarrassment for the august House and the state as a whole as this serious constitutional lapse or in other words – “a serious violation of the constitutional provision” would have come to a scanner before the whole world,” Sangma while urging that necessary action has to be taken.

The special session was convened on January 20, for ratification of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2019.