Cabinet to discuss implementation of roster system

The National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance-2 government has decided to discuss and take a call on the issue related to the implementation of the roster system in the upcoming meeting of the state Cabinet.

This came after the demand for calling a special session of the State Assembly to discuss the issue pertaining to the roster system and the state reservation policy following a recent order passed by the Meghalaya High Court.

Speaking to media persons, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that he does not see any need to have a special session to discuss the issue.

“However, I am not saying that right now. When Chief Minister is back in Shillong, we are planning to have an all-party meeting, we would (also like to have an MDA meeting but first of all we will have a detailed discussion in the cabinet and then ultimately we will take a decision maybe we can also call an all-party meeting where we can share and discuss everything with all the political parties,” he said.

Tynsong said, “Well that is a very long story. Let me just tell you one thing, we already filed the affidavit three times and that time the Meghalaya High Court (in its earlier order) says you have to do the roster system right from 1972. They clearly said it should be right from the inception of the reservation policy which means that we have to go back from 1972.”

“But in view of the latest ruling of the High Court, we will again sit down, we will discuss in the Cabinet, we will discuss in the MDA and thereafter we can even call the all-party meeting,” he added.

On the demand of the NGOs that the roster system should not be implemented right from 1972, the deputy chief minister said, “It should not be retrospective. That is true. Even from the government side last year, we already filed affidavits two-three times, we requested the High Court if possible let us make it prospective. From the day the ruling came in we would like to have that roster system also to be in place from that time itself.”

With regards to the demand for reviewing the state reservation policy, Tynsong however said, “We will take up (the issues) one by one. As of now, I think the issue is about the roster system so the government has taken note of this, we will discuss it in the Cabinet and we will discuss it with the MDA partners as well as if necessary we will call the all-party meeting.”

VPP presses home demand for special session of Assembly

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has sought Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s intervention in convening the special session of the State Assembly to allow members to discuss and debate on the need to review the state reservation policy.

In a letter submitted to Sangma, VPP general secretary Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon said, “We request you as the Head of the Government to take initiative in convening a special session of the State Assembly in order to allow members to discuss and debate on the need to review the present reservation policy.”

He said the vexed and pertinent issue on the roster system and the state job reservation policy that is indeed a serious and grave matter of concern across the state that warrants a serious debate, discussion and resolution.

Furthermore, Dr Syngkon said that the Bench of the High Court in its order on PIL dated April 3, has categorically stated, “These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with the law.”

VPP decides to move for special Assembly session

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has decided to submit a petition to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the matter pertaining to the issue of implementation of the roster system and the state job reservation policy.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee after the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court that the decision for a cut-off date or how far back the roster system would be made applicable was left at the discussion of the State Assembly.

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Informing this, VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said the party has also decided to organise public meetings in the different districts or sub-division headquarters to enlighten the public on the impact of the implementation of the roster system without bringing the much-needed review of the job reservation policy.

Also, the Party in such meetings will elucidate the importance of creating resistance against the attempt to impose a one-language policy in the country marked by diversity and also on the criticality of inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India, he said.

Meanwhile, the VPP appealed to the citizens to attend public meetings. The dates of the public meetings will be announced at a later date.