Shillong, Dec 21: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Wednesday demanded the state government to immediately suspend the Director of the Printing and Stationery Salgira R Marak for his alleged involvement in misappropriation of public funds.
Addressing media persons, FKJGP assistant general secretary Reginald Thabah said, “We demand the state government to take action against the Director within 10 days to ensure free and fair conduct of the departmental enquiry into the misuse of public money from 2010-2020.”
He said that a departmental enquiry was headed by the Commissioner & Secretary Ripnar Lyngdoh to probe into the misappropriation of funds which amounts to Rs 2 crore. “However, till date the departmental enquiry is not yet concluded and no explanation was sought,” he said adding that this was despite the fact that the matter was also revealed through RTI findings by an advocate Egenstar Kurkalang.
Thabah said the failure to take action against such an erring officer tantamounts to violating the Meghalaya Civil Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 2019. Rule 6(1) (a) clearly stated that where a disciplinary proceedings against him is contemplated or is pending, he should be kept under suspension.
He said the chief secretary and the law department have strongly recommended suspension of the Director pending departmental proceedings. “However, the government had not paid any heed to the recommendation and approval but instead allowed Marak to reply to the charges while in office. Therefore, we strongly demand the immediate suspension of Marak pending the department proceedings against him to ensure that there is no chance for him to tamper the evidence against him,” Thabah said.
