'Selection Committee never had a sitting yet'

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Sept 14: Civil society groups demanding an independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya today said that the Selection Committee which is essential in the process of finding the chairperson and three other members who will form the anti-corruption ombudsman has not had a sitting yet.

“This lapse on the part of the Chief Minister is indeed regrettable considering that in October 2014 he had announced that within five months he would see to it that there will be a full-fledged Lokayukta in Meghalaya,” Thma U Rangli in a statement said today.

TUR also reminded that on September 3, the members of the campaign met with him where Dr Mukul Sangma assured that things will move ahead without further delay.

The Selection Committee was constituted to compose the five member search committee as provided for by Sec 4 (3) of the Act.

The Selection Committee which is mandated by Sec 4(1) of the Lokayukta Act and consists of the Chief Minister as chairperson, Leader of the opposition, Speaker, Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High court or a High Court judge nomited by the Chief Justice and an eminent person nomited by the Governor.

On October 17 last year, the Meghalaya cabinet has approved the Search Committee (constitution, terms and condition of appointment of members and the manner of selection of panel of mes for appointment of chairperson and members of Lokayukta) Rules, 2014 for selection and appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokayukta.

TUR demanded an immediate sitting of the selection committee to constitute the search committee in a “transparent manner” and that the mes of the search committee should be made public.

Further the campaign also demanded immediate operation of the Lokayukta rules for annual declaration of assets by public servants including elected representatives, officers and all government servants.

“Given that the chief minister assured that all formalities for this are more or less complete. This annual declaration of assets should be made public and made available online as soon as possible so that citizens can be proactive in checking disproportiote assets of public servants which is a key indicator of corruption and misuse and abuse of power,” TUR said.  

The TUR also warned that the campaign is prepared for more intensive action if their demands are not met.

Those demanding for an independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya comprises of several civil society groups like, TUR, KSU, HNYF, FKJGP, GSU, KWADA, AJYWO, Maitshaphrang Movement, Meghalaya Right to Information Movement, Lympung ki Seng Kynthei among others.