Lokayukta should be allowed to work to its full potential: TMC leader Mukul Sangma

Amidst Lokayukta row in Meghalaya, opposition leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma demanded that the Meghalaya Lokayukta must be allowed to function to its full potentiality, questioning the removal of three retired officers who were part of it that was probing embezzlement cases related to central funding.

Speaking to the media persons in Shillong, Sangma said “What is the purpose of the Lokayukta? The whole state wanted something which can act as a deterrence (to lawbreakers), let it function to its full potentiality”.

He said that if it is not able to perform then the fear of law will cease to exist.

“Fear for law is crucial and the enactment of law is precisely for that purpose. It will ensure there is an ultimate end result of enabling people to be self-regulated. When there is fear for law all people, including polcy makers, will be self-regulated,” he added.

On the issue of the recent removal of the three retired officials from the Lokayukta by the state government, Sangma questioned its intentions.

“Intention is more important. You have to be more analytical, you have to be more investigative, then you will have the answer,” he said.

The Meghalaya government on December 30 last year dismissed three Lokayukta officials through a WhatsApp message. The sacked officials are Director of Inquiry and Prosecution J Rymmai, who is a former IPS officer and Enquiry-cum-Investigating Officers R Pde and Anil K Sangma. The government said that the officials were removed because they had retired and the terminations were in line with the provisions of Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.