The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (CoMSO) has urged Meghalaya governor Tathagatha Roy to give assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.
The ordinance was approved by the state Cabinet amending the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
The ordinance was sent to the Raj Bhavan on November 12 for the assent of the governor.
Also read: Ordinance for visitors’ registration yet to get Meghalaya Guv’s assent
In a letter to the governor, Robertjune Kharjahrin, chairman and Roykupar Synrem, secretary of CoMSO said: “CoMSO It came to our knowledge and information that the Government of Meghalaya was pleased to bring an Amendment to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2016 vide Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 and the same is pending before your esteem office for Assent.”
The CoMSO is of the opinion that the “Ordinance will go a long way towards achieving the aim and objective of the Act for the safety and security of the residents of the State”.
It also said the Ordinance will protect the “demographic structures of the State as a whole, which has been a long and genuine aspiration of the residents of the State.”
The organization also said the Ordinance has been approved after “consultation with the legal experts and the Law department of the state and we are aware that various stakeholders (CSOs, political parties, traditional institutions and others) were also consulted”.
CoMSO said the proposed provision which makes it mandatory for non-residents, who intend to stay beyond 24 hours in the state to furnish information, “will not affect the free movement of tourists or visitors”.