Has Meghalaya House turned into an officers' club?

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Sept 21: United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator from Shillong West, Paul Lyngdoh today said that the certain officers of the state government have turned Meghalaya House into an “officer’s club”.

Lyngdoh made these charges during the Question Hour.

He also questioned the extension of service of the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Meghalaya House in the tiol capital even after he has attained his age of superannuation.

“It is not without reason an officer is given three extensions after his retirement,” Lyngdoh said.

Earlier, the General Administration Department (GAD) Minister, HDR Lyngdoh informed the house that no government officers have been utilizing the rooms and premises for hosting wedding and birthday receptions at Meghalaya House.

However, the UDP legislator from Shillong West said that the reply of the Minister was a “total lie”. The UDP legislator pointed out that some months back he had requested authorities of Meghalaya House, New Delhi to accommodate certain people but they refused.

“I was told there was a wedding reception and four rooms have been booked for wedding party of an officer,” Lyngdoh said.

In his defence, the GAD Minister said that he was replying according to information received from the department.

According to the Minister as per records no such functions took place within the premises or the rooms of Meghalaya House.

However, the UDP legislator countering the argument put up by the GAD Minister said that last week the Privilege Committee had asked the Commissioner of the department to appear before it.

Lyngdoh said that the officer had stated that he will make sure that it would not happen again.

The UDP legislator also said that this was not the first time such an incident happened.

He said that when Dr DD Lapang was the chief minister, the VIP rooms which include the rooms of the governor and chief minister were utilised for a wedding party.

Meanwhile, HSPDP legislator from Nongkrem urged the Chief Minister to institute an inquiry into the incident even as he sought to know the procedures need to be fulfilled for getting accommodation in the Meghalaya House.

The GAD Minister informed the House that the state government has approved the guidelines in 2001 with regards to the functioning of the Meghalaya house, New Delhi.

Further Speaker, Abu Taher Mondal informed the House that he too received complaints from members of the Assembly and recently held a meeting with officials of the GAD on the issue.

Mondol said that certain amendments are needed in the Rules so that there is no recurrence of such incidents.