Will the MDA government headed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma agree to hold a special session of the State Assembly to discuss the job reservation policy and roster system?
It may be mentioned that on April 6, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has officially written to Sangma to convene the special session of the Assembly to discuss and debate on the two issues.
The letter which was signed by VPP general secretary Dr. Ricky A J Syngkon said that the matter “is indeed a serious and grave matter of concern across the state that warrants a serious debate, discussion and resolution.”
Dr. Syngkon also quoted the ruling of the Meghalaya High Court in PIL No.2 of 2023 of April 3, 2023 which says, “These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with law.”
Copy of the letter was also sent to Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma.
However, the decision on holding the special session of the Assembly rests on the State government although summoning of such a special session is done by the Governor.
Article 174 of the Constitution says that the Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit.
The provision also puts on the Governor the responsibility of ensuring that the House is summoned at least once every six months.
Although it is the Governor’s prerogative to summon the House, however, according to Article 163, the Governor is required to act on the “aid and advice” of the Cabinet.
So when the Governor summons the House under Article 174, this is not of his or her own will but on the aid and advice of the Cabinet.
In Meghalaya, by convention the State Assembly sessions are held only twice a year and include the budget session and autumn session.
Holding of special sessions is mainly as per the whim and fancy of the State government.
Only two special sessions were held in recent years following public pressure on the government.
A special session was held on November 27, 2018 in which the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to urge the Centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The one-day session was also one of the longest sittings. It began at 10 am and concluded at around 5:15 pm. The fresh resolution replaced the earlier resolution which was passed by the State Assembly on September 27, 2018.
Another one-day special session of the State Assembly was held on December 19, 2019 to pass a resolution to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State.
