HSPDP wants Act preventing members from holding dual posts

The Opposition Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today demanded the state government to declare the act preventing members from holding dual posts, "null and void."
The government was under fire for failing to take action against dual post holders even after the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly) (Amendment) Act, 2015 was made effective from October last year.
"This bill must be declared null and void. If not, show the action immediately," HSPDP member Witting Mawsor said while moving a call attention motion during the ongoing budget session.
"The reason that till date no action has been taken even against your (Congress) own person, has proved this bill has no teeth, no power, no destination... It is just like a gun without bullet," Mawsor said, alleging that the state government was misleading the people.

While KHADC CEM P N Syiem is the lone legislator who refused to relinquish his dual posts - MLA and MDC, seven others have resigned as members of KHADC and JHADC after the Act came into effect.
In his reply, Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh said the members of District Councils, Executive Members or Chief Executive Members (CEMs) were not covered by the Act.

Stating that there are three aspects on the matter, Lyngdoh said "The legislature has passed the law omitting the provisions of entry No 9 from the Schedule of the Act, 1972 and the Act of 2015 came into force on October 1, last year."

"The second is, whether after passing the amendment, an MLA who is holding the post of MDC is to be disqualified or not, which will be decided by the Governor or the competent Court of law," he said while informing a PIL on the matter was still pending before the High Court
Further, Lyngdoh also said the Governor had referred the matter to the Election Commission on November 30, last.
"The EC has sought further information on January 19, and the state government has furnished it on February 20," he stated.