Shillong, June 7: Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Wednesday informed that Phidalia Toi the chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has been removed from the post for violating rules of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act, 2005.

Lyngdoh said Toi is supposed to attend at least three meetings of the commission according to the rules but she has abstained from four meetings and her alleged involvement in recent election rally of the NPP legislator from Jowai, Wailadmiki Shylla.

Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said, “I have studied the file of the person concerned. She is supposed to attend at least three meetings of the commission according to the rules. But she has abstained from four meetings. It was also on this ground that she can longer continue as the chairperson of the commission.”

He informed that no new appointment has been made for the post as the government will have to be very careful about the selection of the new chairperson because of this experience.

“A women commission is a very important constitutional body and you need to have people who have the drive and the interest in the office because there is so much that the commission is entrusted with,” stressed the Minister.

He further said that this is a subject which he will take up with the Chief Minister since this is a very vital body. “We will come up with a panel of names and that panel of names will come up to me for consideration as the Minister and then I will discuss this with the CM,” he said whilst emphasizing that the selection of the new chairperson of the Women’s Commission will be based on merit and quality.

Further, he informed that the other members of the commission will continue until the end of the tenure.