The Nagaland Assembly on Friday passed the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2015 with Amendments on the last day of the two-day winter session of the House.
The Bill was moved by Chief Minister TR Zeliang, which was unanimously supported by the members.
Nagaland Health Rule (Amendment), 2017 Bill which was laid by Health & Family Welfare Minister Imkong L Imchen and Nagaland Essential Services (maintenance) Act, 1978 (first amendment) Bill, 2017 moved by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Civil Aviation P Paiwang Konyak were also passed by the Assembly.
Taking part in the debate on Lokayukta Bill, Chief Minister Zeliang said Lokayukta Act will depend on how it is implemented and not how it is passed.
“Once the Act is in operation, we’ll come to know the loopholes,” Zeliang said.
Citing the example of Liquor Prohibition Act, 1989, the Chief Minister said if people are not serious there cannot be effective checking of corruption through the Lokayukta Act.
“Every citizen must be committed. Together only we can check corruption,” he stated.
Zeliang also said the Vigilance Commission will have a lot of powers to check corruption.
Taking part in the debate, MLA Yitachu said a written Act is not worth anything unless the citizens cooperate.
He was optimistic that a lot of transformation will take place with the passage of the bill since inputs were also adopted from the suggestions given by the civil societies.
MLA Thomas Ngullie stressed on the importance of Lokayukta in checking corruption in the context of Nagaland.
He blamed the bureaucrats and technocrats apart from the politicians for corruption.
“The Bill is meant to check everyone from corruption and not only the politicians,” he said while advocating a sound budget for Lokayukta for effective implementation of the Act.
On the resolution for revocation of the Assembly Resolution on Municipal Act, 2001, Minister for Health & Family Welfare Imkong L Imchen said Article 243T and Article 371A are contradictory since women reservation in Article 243T infringes Article 371A. He said he was not against the revocation of the Resolution, but cautioned the House saying ‘posterity may blame us one day.’
Before moving the Municipal Act 2001 for adoption, Chief Minister Zeliang spoke on the history of the municipal amendments and elections in Nagaland.
He said the State Government is open for discussion and deliberation on the issue.
He also informed the House that a committee will be formed so that in case of conflicts a consensus can be made.
Participating in the debate on Naga political issue, MLA Yitachu said each and very Naga has a strong desire that the issue be settled at the earliest.
He said Nagaland Legislative Assembly is the only authority which can serve as a medium of linkage between the Naga people and the solution.