Sikkim Assembly passed Bill to Amend Disqualification of Members Act

Gangtok, Dec 14 (UNI) The Sikkim Assembly today passed a bill to protect its members from disqualification for holding office of profit.

The house passed the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Members (Disqualifications) Amendment bill 2006. The bill also amended the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualifications) Act,1978, and replaced the ordinance promulgated on September 6 this year.

The 1978 Act was amended in June last to protect some members of the house for holding office of profit after the Opposition member demanded their disqualification. The new Act would come into force from November 3, 1977 with retrospective effect and provides protection to members holding the office of government and semi-government establishments.

Moving the bill Minister in-Charge Parliamentary Affairs R B Subba said an ordinance was promulgated in September to include certain more offices in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualifications) Act 1978 so as not to disqualify them for holding the office. The bill seeks to replae the ordinance as required under Art 213(2)(a) of the constitution.

He however dismissed the lone Sangha MLA Acharya Tshering Lama's allegation that the house could not make law on the subject as the issue was subjudice saying the house had the competence to enact laws.

The house also passed the Sikkim Labour Protection (Amendment) Bill 2006. The Act amended the Sikkim Labour Prtection Act 2005. The new Act would come into force from June 1, 2006.

Moving the bill Minister for Labour D T Lepcha said the amendment was made to streamline the procedural aspect and strengthen the Act.

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