The A·chik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF) has added its voice to opposition to the appointment of a member of the Khasi-Pnar community to the chair of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Yesterday the the A·chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) had written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma over the same issue and, like the ASPF, said that it is the turn of a Garo person to be Chairperson of the MPSC.
The ASPF today said that there is a principle of “fair rotation” between the Garo and Khasi-Pnar communities in the appointment of MPSC Chairperson even though it admitted that this has never been codified.
Equal representation in the appointment of MPSC members is followed, with two members drawn from the Khasi-Pnar community and the other two from the Garo community. “It is therefore only logical and just that the same principle should govern the selection of the Chairperson, ensuring balanced representation at the highest level of this constitutional body,” the ASPF stated.
Since the inception of the MPSC, the Chairperson has been a member of the Khasi-Jaintia tribe on nine occasions and a Garo seven times and this “emerging imbalance” should not be allowed to widen, it added.
The last MPSC Chairperson was PR Marwein, of the Khasi-Pnar community, who retired in January. Following Marwein’s superannuation, Babynna T Sangma of the Garo tribe took over as Acting Chairperson until she too retired at the end of February. The state government recently appointed a Chairperson in charge of the MPSC and three members while a selection committee decides on the next full-time Chairperson. Badarius Shylla is holding the charge of MPSC while Aloysius Ch Marak, Lester Pathaw and Sanjive K Marak are the members.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Students Union (JSU) expressed happiness at the prospect that the next MPSC chief will be from the Pnar community.
The pressure group said that it and the local community “eagerly anticipate” the chance for a Chairperson to emerge from Jaintia Hills.
The Khasi-Pnar community is seen as one block in the state reservation policy, which was referred to by the ASPF and ACHIK. However, the JSU said that it is “vital” that the next MPSC Chairperson comes from Jaintia Hills, i.e., the homeland of the Pnar community.
“This region has made substantial contributions to literacy and has been the birthplace of many influential figures in the state,” the JSU stated. “Historical records show the position (of MPSC Chair) has largely been held by representatives from the Khasi and Garo communities. Up until now, there have been two terms from Garo Hills and one from Khasi Hills. Thus, it is vital that the next MPSC Chairman (sic) is selected from Jaintia Hills.The JSU, along with the people of the region, is optimistic about achieving this goal to ensure balanced representation.”
