Nagaland Minister K.G. Kenye Urges Inactive Assembly Committee Members to Step Down

Kenye highlighted that Assembly Committees play a crucial role in policymaking and governance, ensuring developmental programmes implemented.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Power in Nagaland, K.G. Kenye, has called for greater accountability among Assembly Committee members, urging those unable to fulfill their responsibilities to relinquish their positions.

Speaking during the 6th Session of the 14th Assembly at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Secretariat today, he emphasised that absenteeism and inefficiency are compromising legislative functions.

“If for any reasons the member cannot shoulder and discharge their assigned responsibilities owing to their absence repeatedly for want of column, that is at least a 2/3 majority in such cases, having been reported
on several occasions, then it will be advised as advisable for them to relinquish their positions as a member of those committees with prior information to the Speaker so as to facilitate another member for the
smooth conduct of such committees,” said the Minister.

Kenye highlighted that Assembly Committees play a crucial role in policymaking and governance, ensuring that developmental programmes are implemented effectively.

However, he expressed concern that several members are repeatedly absent, hindering the committees’ efficiency.

He urged such members to step down voluntarily, allowing more committed representatives to take charge.

He stated that the Legislature is the Temple of Democracy and it is an institute where policies are conceived and these policies are transformed into laws through enactment by the Legislature to govern the State and its citizens, and that the role of the assembly committees is to coordinate with the working systems of the two Secretariats to ensure the implementation of developmental programmes.

“The legislature and the Parliament of India are the temple of democracy. It is an institute where policies are conceived and these policies are transformed into laws through enactments by the legislature to govern the state and its citizens. To implement these acts following the
policies, a system is established which is known as the Government machinery. Therefore, these two organs, the Legislature and the government machinery, work in tandem for the interests of the people. The functions of these two organs to manage governance effectively have two secretariats- one is the Assembly Secretariat to receive through the peoples recounting to Thebes and the other one is the Civil Secretary to deliver through the Civil Service. Therefore, the synchronization of the two secretariats is of paramount importance and this is why the many assembly committees have been constituted,” said the Minister.

The Minister also criticised the non-cooperation of Administrative Heads of Departments (AHoDs) and Heads of Departments (HoDs), stating that their absence from key meetings was delaying important decisions.

He warned against the practice of deputing junior officers in place of senior officials, calling it highly inappropriate and demanding strict adherence to legislative responsibilities.

He said that all recommendations made by the committees must be treated with due importance and that a mechanism should be in place for their timely implementation.

He urged AHoDs and HoDs to personally attend Oral Evidence Meetings and Assembly Sessions, backing that the Legislature is the highest democratic institution and must be given the utmost seriousness and priority.

Reiterating his firm stance, he warned that compromising the roles and responsibilities of Assembly Committees would undermine the essence of a people’s government.

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