Shillong, Sept 8:The cabinet on Monday discussed the report of the expert committee on state reservation policy and felt that more time was needed to deliberate on the matter before making it public..
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, MDA spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said that the expert committee has come up with suggestions on the status quo, fresh views and the legal implications once a change in the status quo is implemented.
“The cabinet this morning took cognizance of the report and the various recommendations and has decided to immediately study the report. It is a voluminous report running into several thousands of pages. We will take time to study the various recommendations, and after due diligence, we should be able to come up with a decision on the various recommendations of this committee,” Paul said.
He said the report contains various recommendations, some of which are new and include economic considerations
“Now we are at a stage where the report has just been received. We have taken cognizance of the report, and we will formulate a stand as a cabinet on the various recommendations. There are points which are for status quo, and there are fresh ones”, he said.
“The chief secretary briefed us today through his report, and as members of the cabinet, we also have our own questions and concerns and points for more clarity; therefore, we will take some time before we come up with a decision on the report,” he said.
The minister said the government has the option to accept or reject the recommendations, and the decision will be made after thorough consultations.
He also emphasised that the government will strive for a balanced outcome, taking into account the views of all stakeholders.
“We have always been balanced, and we will continue to be so. Yes, the government has the option to accept or reject the recommendations. But finally, recommendations are just suggestions, but the decision is finally that of the state government,” Lyngdoh said.
On the delay in taking up the report, the minister said, “The report has only reached us in June, so now the session is meeting in September, but overall, we will need some time because it is a voluminous report with wide-ranging ramifications. We will not commit a mistake of rushing into any decision because each of the recommendations carries a lot of weight and needs to be perused.”
Regarding the legal implications, Lyngdoh said, “Obviously, the report indicated that if you take this course of action, these will be the legal ramifications, so we will need to therefore pursue and go in-depth into each of the recommendations.”
