Sikkim Assembly adopts resolution to protect old laws

Gangtok, Dec 13 (UNI) The Sikkim Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution to reaffirm the government's commitment to protect all old laws and manuals that existed before the merger of the state with India in 1975.

The private member resolution was moved by ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) member N K Pradhan and seconded by his colleague T T Bhutia.

The need for the resolution was felt in the wake of a statewide public outcry against the ''possible'' dilution of old laws after the state High Court, during the hearing of a case, questioned the validity of Rule 4 (4) of the Sikkim Government Establishment Rules, 1974, which provides preferential treatment to Sikkimese people in government jobs.

Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said some vested elements misled the people and created the ''unrest''. He said Sikkim is an integral part of India and Art 371 F (k) of the constitution protected all the old laws of Sikkim.

Mr Chamling said the resolution was an effort to maintain the sanctity of the constitution. He described Sangha (monasteries) MLA Acharya Tshering Lama's allegation that the old laws were being diluted as ''misleading.'' Moving the resolution, Mr Pradhan said the government had taken a serious note of the unrest which appeared to have been caused by ''apprehension that there is a possibility of erosion of the safeguard provided for the people under old laws duly protected under Art 371 F of the constitution.'' SDF member B M Ramudamu demanded punishment against irresponsible leaders and journalists who misled the people and created the unrest.

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