Illegal & unconstitutional to ask MLA’s recommendation for trade license: CAP Sikkim

GANGTOK, : Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim on Thursday said it is illegal and unconstitutional for any State government agency to insist on an MLA’s recommendation when a trade license application is made.

Speaking to the media here, CAP Sikkim spokesperson Albert Gurung maintained that the Urban Development department’s notification of 2012 clearly states that only recommendation from a gram panchayat (for rural areas) or a councillor (for bazaar areas is required.

Gurung was briefing the media after a CAP Sikkim delegation met the Urban Development officials here, seeking clarification on the trade license-recommendation issue.

“People of Sikkim who want to do business and run their livelihood are being told by certain officials to get their area MLA’s recommendation while applying for trade licenses. Both the Union government and the State government want people becoming self-reliant but this happens when people do business. However, it is very difficult for those people here who are in the opposition or have differences with the ruling party to get trade licenses because they are being told to get the area MLA’s recommendation,” said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.

The CAP Sikkim team took up this issue with the Urban Development officials and sought to know if there is any rule that mandates the area MLA’s recommendation while applying for a trade license.

“We have received clarification from the department. A 2011 notification states that the MLA’s recommendation was required for a trade license but in 2012 there was an amendment. The amended notification clearly stipulates that the recommendation should be from the gram panchayat member for rural areas, and for urban local bodies, the recommendation should be from the councillor or the nagar panchayat”, said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.

“Hence, we want to tell the people that there is no need for the MLA’s recommendation while applying for a trade licence. However, if the government authorities still ask for such a recommendation, contact CAP Sikkim and we will fight a legal battle for you. It is unconstitutional and illegal to ask for a MLA recommendation for trade licences,” said Gurung.