SHILLONG, JAN 6: The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed anomalies in the appointment and promotion of officers of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).

Melvereen Iangrai, holding the post of Stenographer Grade I was appointed to the post of Registrar in the scale of pay (Rs 20,700-620-24420 -730-29530-890-36650) on July 15, 2016 by the Secretary to the Executive Committee.

Scrutiny revealed that for the post of Registrar, the Council had neither invited application through advertisement nor any competitive examination or interview was held. There was no record to show that the Council had notified Recruitment Rules and the duties, responsibilities, functions etc, assigned to the post of Registrar.

Further, the Executive Committee on August 28, 2018 re-designated the post of Stenographer Grade I held by M Iangrai to the post of Registrar in the scale of (Rs 20,700-620-24420 -730-29530-890-36650).

There was also no record to show that the Departmental Promotion Committee had approved the appointment /promotion of M Iangrai to the post of Registrar.

“Thus, the appointment of M Iangrai to the post of Registrar and subsequent re-designation in violation of the Rule ibid, absence of Recruitment Rules/duties, responsibilities, functions etc and absence of DPC approval was irregular,” the CAG said in its report.

On the promotion to the post of Under Secretary, the CAG said Ribina Kharraswai, Under Secretary joined the Council as Lower Division Assistant (LDA) during October 1993 and was promoted to the post of Upper Division Assistant (UDA) during December 203, Assistant Superintendent during April 2015, Superintendent during December 2017 and Under Secretary during August 2020.

It was however, noticed that there anomalies in grant of promotion of officers:
Rosila Kharraswai, Under Secretary joined as LDA during March 1999 and was promoted to the post of UDA on July 2009, Special Officer on February 2019 (the post was re-designated as Under Secretary during August 2020).

Andy L Basaiawmoit, Under Secretary joined as Muharir during April 2000 and was promoted to the post LDA on January 2002, UDA on April 2015 and Under Secretary on January 2019.

Leonard Khongsngi, Revenue Officer, joined as LDA during February 1999 and was promoted to the post of UDA on June 2009, Revenue Officer on January 2019.

“From the above it could be seen that Ribina Kharraswai earned stage-wise promotion from LDA to Under Secretary (ie LDA – UDA – Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent – Under Secretary) while in the case of the other two officer, promotion to the post of Under Secretary/Revenue Officer from UDA was given without promoting them to the post of Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. There were no record that the DPC had approved the promotion of these officers,” the CAG said.

“It was also seen that Smt Ribina Kharraswai had also submitted a petition to the Council on January 7, 2019 apprising anomaly in promotion of Shri Andy L Basaiawmoit to the post Under Secretary on January 2, 2019, who was junior to her. Accordingly, Smt Ribina Kharraswai and Smt Rosilia Kharraswai were promoted (August 18, 2020) to the post of Under Secretary after they had pointed out the anomaly in promotion of Andy L Basaiawmoit.
Thus, the promotion of Rosilia Kharraswai and Andy L Basaiawmoitn and Leonard Khongsngi to the post of Under Secretary and Revenue Officer respectively in violation of the rules and decision takeb by the Council,” it added.

The Secretary to the Executive Committee, KHADC in August 2022 had stated that the appointment of Melvereen Iangrai to the post of Registrar was done with the approval of the Executive Committee, KHADC. Further, promotion of Rosilia Kharraswai, Andy Basaiawmoit and Leonard Khongsngi was done with the approval of the Executive Committee as all appointments, promotion of officers/staff are carried out with the approval of the EC.

The Secretary added further that the EC, KHADC being the highest appointing authority, observed the suitability, merit, competency and sincerity of any officer/staff before promoting them to the next higher post. Therefore, promotion of the above officials, as Under Secretary and Revenue Officer respectively has been done accordingly with the approval of the Executive Committee and for the interest of the Council as a whole.

However, the CAG said that the reply of the Council is not acceptable as it neither followed the Rules framed in this regard nor did it seek approval from the Departmental Promotion Committee.

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