Shillong, Jan 8: The National People’s Party’s (NPP) spokesperson and Adviser to the Education Department, Himalaya M Shangpliang, on Monday clarified that the termination of the Meghalaya Lokayukta officers was in adherence to the provisions of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.
The statement comes in response to allegations raised by the opposition Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) regarding the termination of officers from the Meghalaya Lokayukta, reportedly linked to the unearthing of a significant scandal in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The dismissed officials include the Director of Inquiry and Prosecution, J. Rymmai, a former IPS officer, along with Enquiry-cum-Investigating Officers – R. Pde and Anil K. Sangma.
In a press briefing on Monday, Shangpliang clarified that as per Section 10(2) and 11 of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014, officers or staff must originate from the Department. Retired government personnel cannot be part of the Department.
He said the appointed officers were retired personnels from the Home (Police) Department and their appointments were an interim measure by the Government. He further informed that the appointment for the Director of Inquiry was issued in October 2022; and for the Inquiry officers, appointments were issued in March 2023.
Shangpliang further stressed that in line with the Act’s provisions (Section 10 and 11), when the government deemed it necessary, names were submitted to the Lokayukta for officer selections. On December 19, 2023, the Meghalaya Lokayukta office selected I.W. Ingty, IAS, as the Director of Inquiry and Prosecution, along with three MPS officers – Chalang G Momin, John C Sangma, and Baniateilang Diengngan as its members.
Addressing allegations of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma interfering with the Lokayukta office’s functioning, the NPP spokesperson refuted such claims. He asserted that there has never been any instance where the Chief Minister or the government intervened in the selection or appointment processes of Meghalaya Lokayukta officers.
Read: HNLC sets ‘amnesty’ condition for resumption of peace talks
WATCH:
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub
 spokesperson and Adviser to the Education Department, Himalaya M Shangpliang, on Monday clarified that the termination of the Meghalaya Lokayukta officers was in adherence to the provisions of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.){kind=link}