The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has reiterated its demand that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution be amended in order to allow the Meghalaya Governor to take decisions that would otherwise be in the purview of the President of India.
The HSPDP wants the Meghalaya government to send a resolution recommending this to the Centre. A party delegation today met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to submit a letter in this regard.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang informed the CM that several central government laws and rules affect the unique identity, cultural land tenure and demographic structure of the state.
However, when the Assembly passed resolutions urging the President to exempt Meghalaya from the Conservation of Forests Act 1980 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, these were turned down.
Having the power to exempt Meghalaya from such laws be entrusted to the Governor, who is the President’s representative, could help avoid such situations in future.
The HSPDP stated that such powers reside with the Governor of Assam for the neighbouring state to date. Under Paragraph 12 (b) of the Sixth Schedule, the Assam Governor has the power to notify and direct that any act of Parliament shall not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in Assam, or shall apply to such a region in the state, or shall apply to such district or region or any part thereof subject to such exceptions or modifications as specified by the Governor.
