SHILLONG, May 27 � A 24-hour bandh called by the banned Hyn�iewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) disrupted normal life with people staying indoors and shops and markets remaining closed. However, no untoward incidents were reported from anywhere in the State.
The bandh was called by the HNLC in support of some regional leaders who want some bills passed by the district councils to empower traditional institutions be approved by the State Government.
District Council Affairs Minister HDR Lyngdoh held a meeting today with Chief Executive Members of Khasi and Jaintia Hills district councils. Lyngdoh said, there are minor corrections that need to be incorporated in the bills, after which the Executive Committees of the district councils would hold their sessions and then only the bills would be approved by the Government after the Governor gives his assent.
Although Lyngdoh did not set a time-frame for the Bills� approval, he said it would be done at the earliest. �The approval of the Bills, once the corrections are done, would be taken up on a priority,� the Minister said.
Earlier, the Meghalaya High Court had ordered that traditional heads have no right to issue certificates to residents unless they were empowered through legislations. Then KHADC CEM Adelberth Nongrum questioned the order and was hauled by the Court and was sent to jail before he was granted bail.
In the meantime, the State Government has approved the Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies and Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Ordinance, 2015 to empower the traditional institutions.
Meanwhile, most of the Central Government offices, schools and financial institutions remained closed in the State capital here. Officials said the overall attendance at the State Secretariat was 70 per cent, while in other State Government offices in the State capital the attendance stood at 60 per cent.
