Sikkim Assembly pass Removal of Disqualification Amendement Bill

Gangtok, June 10 (UNI) Sikkim Legislative Assembly today passed the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of disqualification) Amendment Bill 2006 to protect its members from disqualification for holding office of profit ignoring the protest from the lone Congress MLA in the house.

The Bill will come into force with retrospective effect from November 3, 1977. The Bill was introduced in the house by state law and Parliamentary Affiars Minister R B Subba yesterday.

Passing the Bill Mr Subba said, the need to amend the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Member (Removal of disqualifications) Act 1978 arose to include certain other offices in the list and enable the members to hold the office lawfully.

The new Act allows a member to enjoy monetary benefits connected with the affairs of any office as may be held and to utilise any grant in a manner which may be considered expedient in connection with the affairs of such offices.

Earlier, lone Congress MLA Acharya Tsering Lama opposed the Bill saying it was ultravires to the Constitution and the government was modifying the Act to suit its own interest.

Mr Lama also alleged that the government was openly accepting the fact that the office sought to be exempted were offices of profit.

However, Mr Subba refuted the allegation saying the amendent was made in the interest of the public and within the provision of the Constitution. The state legislature has the authority, and competence to do it, he said.

Earlier, the Congress in a petition to the Election Commission and the Government had demanded the disqualification of 17 MLAs for holding offices of profit.

In addition to it, the house today also passed five other Bills including the Sikkim Public Demands Recovery Bill 2006, the Sikkim Disaster Management Bill, and the Sikkim State Public Services Bill 2006.

While the Public Demands Recovery Bill aimed at recovering the public money to the state government or any other authority constituted by the state, the Disaster Management Bill aimed at effective management of disaster.

The objective of Public Service Bill is to employ persons carrying certain allowances, monetary benefits and facilities without any specific pay scale and post employment benefit.

UNI BD TJP/XC PA BST1753