Shillong, Mar 7: Members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council on Thursday suggested the need to amend the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951 to allow the Governor to appoint a Protem Chairman to administer an oath of office to newly elected members of the Council, and members should sing the Khasi anthem on the opening and concluding day of the Council’s session.
The suggestions to amend the rules were given by Teiborlang Pathaw, the KHADC member from Mawlai constituency, while Paul Lyngdoh from Jaïaw constituency gave the suggestions to sing the Khasi anthem.
They both gave these suggestions while delivering their congratulatory speech on the election of P.N. Syiem, to the post of Chairman, who is the member from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah constituency.
Paul Lyngdoh said in the State Assembly, the National Anthem was played on the inaugural day and closing day of the Assembly session, and suggested that in the same way, the Khasi anthem should be also sung by members of the Council on the opening day of the session as well as on the last day of the session of the Council.
Teiborlang Pathaw suggested the need to amend the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951 related to oath taking.
He said that like members of the State Assembly who were administered the oath of office by a Protem Speaker, appointed by the Governor from among the senior most members, the Council should also have a Protem Chairman who should administer the oath to newly elected members instead of an officer.
Pathaw also suggested that members of the Council should address other members not by name, but by mentioning the constituency they represent, as a respect to the chair and the people who had elected them.
At present, the Governor appointed the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to administer the oath to newly elected members.
Member from Sohryngkham constituency, Pynïaid Sing Syiem also pointed out that there were a number of rules that need to be amended, even as he suggested that the name of the rule book itself should be immediately changed as it still bears the name, “Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules.â€
Meghalaya has three district councils РKhasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Jai̱tia Hills Autonomous District Council and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.