An organisation from Garo Hills has expressed support to the Voice of the People Party (VPP) over its strong protest against the decision by the MDA government to terminate the Director of Lokayukta’s prosecution wing and two other enquiry officers on the ground that the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act does not allow appointment of retired officers.
The Nokrek Area Development Committee (NADC) said that it was the serious efforts put in the team of Lokayukta enquiry officers that the investigation of the corruption cases in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) was led to a logical conclusion which resulted in the charge sheeting of two cases in the Special Court at Tura for trial.
“We were taken by surprise when the director and two other investigating officers were terminated on the ground that the Lokayukta Act does not allow appointment of retired officers. We cannot accept this kind of justification, as it was the government of Meghalaya only which appointed these officers after carefully studying the pros and cons of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act 2014,” NADC joint secretary Prodip A. Sangma said in a statement issued today.
“The call of the hour is to fight unitedly. The demand of the VPP is valid and justified and we wholeheartedly support their endeavour,” the NADC added.
It also said that the State government’s notification vide no LJ(A)21/2020/21 – A dated 3rd November 2022 has notified that the Public Prosecutors in every district court shall take up cases of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 filed/charge-sheeted by the Lokayukta in the Special Court.
“J Rymmai, the director of the prosecution wing has not practically functioned as a prosecutor in view of the above notification. His responsibility was to oversee and supervise the investigation of the investigation. As for the contention for not having any member in the Lokayukta and the basis on which the appointment of the director for a fixed term of three years and the other officers for five years, we only have to say that such order must have been passed after due consideration,” NADC said.
It also stated that in the past the GHADC has seriously committed wrongs against the people of Garo Hills by siphoning crores of rupees sponsored by the central government. “This is a matter of grave concern which will have to be seriously addressed,” it added.
NADC further said that recently it has filed a complaint before the State Lokayukta with a plea to conduct the inquiry for non-completion in the construction of road from Darenggre to Durabanda.
“The chairperson of Meghalaya Lokayukta, Shillong had passed an order dated 24.11.2023 directing the member of the Inquiry Wing of the Meghalaya Lokayukta to conduct the preliminary inquiry and to collect the materials, information and other relevant documents and to submit the inquiry report with the period of three months from the date of passing the said order. And in compliance with the order of the Meghalaya Lokayukta, Anil K. Sangma the then member of the inquiry wing of the Meghalaya Lokayukta conducted the preliminary inquiry on December 19, 2023 in the presence of the State respondents. It is stated that the preliminary inquiry had been conducted and completed. It is pertinent to submit herein that we were fully satisfied with the manner in which the inquiry had been conducted with transparency and there is no manipulation or illegality while conducting an inquiry by the investigation officer who was removed now by the government,” the NADC said.
