Shillong, Apr 3: The Secretary of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), DG Syiemiong, who had been under suspension for two weeks, rejoined office on April 2, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Winston Tony Lyngdoh informed yesterday.
The CEM informed that the suspension of the Secretary was leaked to the media by some opposition members and officers of the KHADC. “We did not inform the media, since it was an internal matter,” Lyngdoh said. “But it is sad to say that officers and some other people took advantage and took up the matter as if they were concerned (about the suspended officer) but it was they who went and made the issue public.”
According to Lyngdoh, neither he nor other members of the executive committee made the matter public. He stated that it was some officers and members of the opposition that demanded that the EC should clarify why the Secretary was suspended and he criticised the opposition for what he said was playing politics.
The CEM declined to say much on the matter other than that Syiemiong had committed “procedural lapses”.
The Voice of the People Party (VPP) had campaigned on a promise to streamline and improve the functioning of the KHADC, Lyngdoh said, and suspending the Secretary was a step towards that.
“The public has given us the mandate and to streamline the functioning of the council is a promise given by us to them,” the CEM added while stating that some may be surprised by the move but this is what the electorate has given the mandate to the VPP for.
Syiemiong was suspended over allegations that he filed an affidavit before the High Court of Meghalaya without prior approval from the committee.
