Meghalaya: Govt not mandated to intefere in Lokayukta functioning, says Ampareen Lyngdoh

Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the government made recommendations to the Lokayukta after it detected certain anomalies in the recruitment of Director of Inquiry, Director of Prosecution

In a clear cut message, the Meghalaya Government has said that it is not mandated to interfere in the functioning of the Lokayukta.

Meghalaya cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh cleared the government’s position after the opposition Voice of People’s Party (VPP) accused the Conrad Sangma government of terminating 3 officers of the Lokayukta to shield corrupt leaders of the NPP.

Responding to the VPP’s allegations, Lyngdoh informed that the government had found gross irregularities in the recruitment for 2 vital posts which was subsequently raised with the Lokayukta.

Following this the government made recommendations to the Lokayukta for necessary corrections, the minister informed.

Lyngdoh elaborating on this said, “Government is not mandated to interfere in the functioning of the Lokayukta. As per the Lokayukta, in 2014 Government of Meghalaya recognized certain anomalies that seemed to have surfaced in the selection of certain members who are appointed to the Lokayukta, both in the Director of Inquiry as well as the Director of Prosecution posts. Having seen this anomaly the govt thought it fit that necessary corrections were to be made and as per mandate of the Act the government has recommended to the Lokayukta who is the authorized individual to appoint its own members. A panel of names was sent to the office of the Meghalaya Lokayukta and accordingly the corrections were made, officers have been selected.”

It may be mentioned that the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has also threatened to launch a movement and hit the streets against the NPP-led MDA government if the services of the three terminated officers of the Lokayukta are not reinstated.

The controvery evolved after the state government sacked three Lokayukta investigation officers for allegedly unearthing a major scam in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) involving an MLA of the ruling NPP.

Watch also: Meghalaya: Govt not mandated to interfere in Lokayukta functioning, says Ampareen Lyngdoh

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