Shillong, Oct. 8: A day before the hearing of a PIL which seeks the disqualification of legislators who have become members of autonomous district councils, Meghalaya governor V. Shanmuganathan gave his nod to Prevention of Disqualification (Member of Legislative Assembly Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015.

"The governor has given his assent to the amendment bill today," an official in Raj Bhavan here confirmed.

Though the amendment bill was passed on September 24, the governor had delayed his assent to the bill. With the assent of the governor, the amendment bill has now become an act.

The Assembly passed the amendment bill by removing entry IX from the act. Entry IX of the 1972 act says the chairman, chief executive member and other executive members or ordinary members of a district council in an autonomous district or any member nominated to the district council by the governor do not attract disqualification.

With the removal of entry IX from the 1972 act will disallow MLAs from holding the post as elected members of the autonomous district councils in the state. A division bench of the Meghalaya High Court is holding a hearing on a PIL related to dual posts here tomorrow. The PIL was filed by the president of Civil Society Women's Organisation Agnes Kharshiing on October 30, 2014 seeking disqualification of elected representatives holding two posts - as member of Assembly and as member of district councils - under rule 17 (1) (a) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) rules, 1951.

The Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri u Hynñiewtrep today condemned social activist Michael N. Syiem for filing a PIL in high court seeking the abolition of the three autonomous district councils. Its general secretary, R.L. Blah said, "The Sixth Schedule has been created to safeguard minority communities in the state and to help them protect and preserve traditions."