KOHIMA, JULY 14 : 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.’
