CM: Rules for headmen soon

Shillong, Feb. 20: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today said his government would frame rules to delegate powers to headmen in Khasi Jaintia hills.

Sangma made this statement in the context of a judgment and order passed by the Meghalaya high court last year, which questioned the authority of headmen.

Asked if the state government would appeal against the high court order or come up with a legislation to define the powers of headmen, Sangma said, “We have taken all necessary measures and the department concerned has been asked to examine the legal and constitutional perspectives.”

On December 10 last year, Justice S.R. Sen passed a judgment, after he adjudicated a writ petition filed by eight residents of different villages of East Jaintia Hills who wanted their fundamental rights to be protected.

In the order, Sen said, “Headmen have no power to issue any kind of certificate unless empowered by the law.”

Sen said some headmen were drivers, peons or small businessmen and “without knowing anything, they try to impose their ideas on others, which is undesirable in this modern world.”

“We also notice that very often local headmen interfere with the work of police as well as with the district administration. Now the question arises, from where did these headmen derive the power to issue no-objection certificates or to interfere with the administration or indulge in removing people from villages?” he asked.

Justice Sen said, “The answer is that no rule of law has empowered them to do so. They are doing these activities according to their whims and will. They try to run a parallel government. As a result, common citizens are the worst sufferers, which should not be allowed at any cost.”

He was also of the view that in a state two parallel governments cannot run simultaneously.

“It is the government, district administration and the police who are established by law and no assistance should be sought from any headman,” he said.

Moreover, Justice Sen warned the Meghalaya government, district administration and the police not to indulge or ask people to obtain no-objection certificates from headmen. They should function independently according to rules and laws, he added.

via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1JwW03h