The State government has sought explanation from a senior PWD engineer who recently joined the NPP without first resigning or taking voluntary retirement from service.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Public Works Department Prestone Tynsong today said the department has decided to seek explanation from PWD Executive Engineer Ransom Sutnga who recently joined the NPP at a function held in Mawkhar.
“Necessary action will also be taken according to the provisions of the service rules,” Tynsong told the Assembly while replying to a zero hour notice moved by Trinamool Congress MLA, Zenith Sangma, who demanded action be taken against Sutnga for violating the Meghalaya Service Conduct Rules, 2019.
Quoting a report published in a Khasi newspaper ‘U Mawphor’, the sister publication of Highland Post, Sangma said that Sutnga, who is currently the executive engineer in PWD (Building) had recently attended a meeting of NPP North Shillong constituency at Mawkhar where State NPP president and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi was also present.
During the meeting, Dr. Kharlukhi announced that Sutnga will be the NPP candidate from North Shillong constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections. He also felicitated Sutnga by putting the scarf with the NPP symbol on his neck.
“Sutnga is still the executive engineer in the PWD (Buildings) and he has not resigned from his post till date but he is holding meetings in political platforms and involved in political activities. Does the law permit?” Sangma asked.
Sangma also referred to the Meghalaya Service Conduct Rules 2019 and said the rules clearly stated that “any government employee cannot participate in any political activities or be part of any political party as long as he or she is in service.”
“When anybody is involved in any political activities when in service definitely he will misuse his position and there can be favoritism and nepotism which is of course against the law,” Sangma said.
According to Sangma, the action by Sutnga who is still the executive engineer of the PWD attracts the provision of the Meghalaya Service Conduct Rules, 2019.
“Therefore, action should be definitely taken against this officer under the provisions of law otherwise it is going to create bad precedence and that there can be serious ramification in the future because majority of the people don’t read books, they go by the trend. Therefore, I urge upon the government to take appropriate action under appropriate sections of the relevant laws and rules and send a strong message to any other such government employees in future,” Sangma demanded.
