Eastern Mirror: Kohima: Friday,
July 15, 2016.
Following
sharp criticisms that the first day of the 12th session of the Nagaland
Legislative Assembly winded up in just 15 precious minutes, Chief Minister TR
Zeliang on Thursday claimed that ‘assembly or the parliament consume time only
in question hour’ or ‘in cases of controversy in passing or discussion of
bills.’
Addressing a
press conference after the three-day monsoon session was adjourned on Thursday,
the chief minister stated defensively that ‘there has not been any controversy
and only few bills to introduce this session.’
In the explanation
of the chief minister: ‘The way of functioning in a state assembly or the
Parliament is that the opposition bench attacks any small bill or decision
proposed by the treasury, but here fortunately, we have no opposition.’
Zeliang also
said that opportunity is given to members to seek clarifications and ask
questions ‘if they had any queries.’
“But if they
are not putting up questions, we cannot ask them to ask questions,” he said,
adding that ‘when there are no questions, there are no discussions and that is
how the duration of the proceedings of the house gets reduced to short
durations.’
The chief
minister also ventured far to assert that “I should say that this is the most
peaceful Assembly in the country,” and said that ‘people should be happy’ that
the business of the house is taken up and passed peacefully, rather than in a
complicated manner.’
“Whatever we
are doing, we are doing it with a consensus,” he claimed further. He added that
if anyone felt that any important issue had been left out, ‘they could file
RTI.’
Meanwhile, on
the long pending municipal elections in the state and implementation of 33%
women reservation, Zeliang said the state government ‘is contemplating whether
to conduct the elections or wait for court verdict.’ He said the Joint Action
Committee for Women Reservation (JACWR) has filed a Special Leave Petition in
the Supreme Court. He mentioned that there were two options: wait for the SC
for an indefinite period or the group can accept the 25% reservation and go
into elections.
Saying that
the delay was ‘affecting funds reaching the state annually,’ he said that the
cabinet will, during its next sitting, decide on going to election with the 33%
according to the Act or wait for the SC order.
On the issue
of backdoor appointments, the chief minister claimed that the cabinet ‘has
discussed the matter thoroughly in June and decided to strictly streamline the
system of appointment.’ He stated that it was decided all “contract
appointments” will be stopped from June 6, 2016 onwards. Prior to June 6,
whoever has been appointed will follow the previous system wherein on
completion of three years or through the NPSC, their service could be
regularized. He said all the departments are being instructed to notify
retirements of the government employees beforehand so that the posts could be
requisitioned to NPSC for recruitment, while grade III and IV appointments will
be done through proper department recruitment channel with the approval of the
government.
On the issue
of delay in payment of salaries for teachers under central schemes like RMSA
and SSA, Zeliang said since these appointments were made under CSS, unless the
Centre provide funds for the in time, timely payment cannot be done, nor does
the state have the resources to pay.
When asked
about the government’s stand on the matter of five civil societies issuing a
joint memorandum to the prime minister recently on the issue of National
Highways, the chief minister was of the view that the people must first confirm
the reasons and ground reality before going directly to Delhi. Also, pointing
out that many highway projects face the problem of landowners and local
contractors’ issues, he remarked that the people should learn how to go
according to laid down norms and how to allow work to be implemented on time,
so that they can be completed as per specified period.
On the case
of the Maytas-Gaytri, he said the court has ‘directed the government to accept
the updated DPR of the contractor and also nominated a commissioner to look
after the highway project.’
On the
recently launched National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the state, he sought the
co-operation of the people.
In regard to
the fuel adulteration case (SK oil), Zeliang stated that the matter ‘is under
investigation by the police and the department concerned and the government
will take action on anyone found guilty.’
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