Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan today gave his approval to the state government ordinance aimed at giving legal sanctions to traditional institutions and the village headmen in the state.
"The Meghalaya Local Administration (Empowerment of Traditional Institutions, traditional bodies and headmen in governance and public delivery system) Ordinance, 2015 is hereby published for general information," Law Secretary L M Sangma said in a statement.
The ordinance was approved since the Legislative Assembly was not in session and the Governor was "satisfied" that the circumstances exist, which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he said.
The ordinance was necessitated after the Meghalaya High Court struck down the powers of traditional village chiefs to issue NOCs and their involvement in developmental processes in the absence of any legislation.
The Governor also directed to convene a special session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council tomorrow to pass the village administration bill, which was earlier rejected by the state government after it detected flaws in it.
