Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 12
Silence is Golden - a time-tested adage which the 60 lawmakers of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) apparently had a misreading of - going by the first day of the 3-day Twelfth Session of the 12th NLA which for all its worth lasted a measly 15 minutes.
As if chasing time for a far more important engagement, the Tuesday session started at 9:30am and swiftly ended at 9:45am. July 13 stands recess and the session will resume on July 14.
At a time when innumerable issues of pertinence continue to bog down citizens of Nagaland without respite, for instance: corruption, backdoor appointments, fuel adulteration scam, non-payment of salaries, inter-state border issues, the disinclination of the legislators to discuss anything has been taken as a clear expression of a “dysfunctional government.”
Irate citizens were left fuming with resentment after reports of the 15 minutes session of the 12th NLA quickly spread, especially to the social media platform.
This is not the first time that the lawmakers at the NLA chose to remain in the mute. In 2015, the 10th session of the 12th NLA lasted for 30 minutes. The last day of the 11th session of the 12th NLA on March 2016 lasted 13 minutes. Apparently, this particular trend has increased after the 60 legislators discarded their shackles of hostility, abandoned the opposition bench during the February 5, 2015 floor test for trial of strength and have since become ‘friendly.’
Kohima residents had more reason to be annoyed. In view of the 12th NLA session, a tight traffic regulation was imposed for the public commuters to make unhindered passage for the 60 legislators to the Assembly Secretariat. “All this never ending traffic torture of us common people for 15 minutes session of the NLA?” a dumbfound Tiayanger, student of Kohima Science College exclaimed.
If the affair at the Assembly Secretariat of the 60 strong lawmakers wasn’t outrageous, one of the few outcomes, hurriedly approved by the house during the 15 minutes session was the extension of the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2015 select committee for another 6 months.
The bill, which has been long anticipated, if passed will check the alleged rampant corruption, backdoor appointments in government departments and irregularities in implementation of schemes.
Nagaland Lokayukta Bill Select Committee tenure extended
Hope of getting ‘The Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2005’ passed in the Assembly was dashed on Tuesday after Parliamentary Secretary for Housing Er. Levi Rengma moved for extension of the tenure of the Select Committee bill with instructions to present its report within six months. The House adopted the motion.
The Committee is headed by Er. Levi Rengma as chairman with R. Tohanba, C. Apok Jamir, Pukhayi and Dr. TM Lotha as members. Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang had introduced the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill 2015 in the last Assembly Session.
The ‘Lokayukta’ is an anti-corruption authority empowered to investigate into allegations of corruptions against public functionaries and related matters. It is a quasi-judicial body, which would act as a watchdog to pinpoint corrupt activities of the administration, look into complaints of the victims of corrupt elements and recommend measures to improve the efficiency of the State government.
Nagaland Governor PB Acharya was reportedly fumed at the delay of the passing of the Bill, which, if passed, will check alleged rampant corruption, backdoor appointments in government departments and irregularities in implementation of schemes.
Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang presented the Supplementary Demand for Grants for Regularization of Excess Expenditure for the year 2011- 2012. NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo informed that discussion and voting on this matter will be taken up on July 14.
Commissioner & Secretary N. Benjamin Newmai reported the assent of Governor of Nagaland to the three Bills- Nagaland Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2016, Nagaland Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2016 and Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015.
Earlier, NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo made an obituary reference to the passing away of Late R. Lisen, former member of NLA. Lisen passed away on May 3, 2016 at Dimapur. The House observed 2 minute silent as a mark of respect to the departed soul. The House also introduced St. Joseph Catholic University Nagaland Bill, 2016.
