SHILLONG, SEPT 20: The ngos demanding for appointment of Lokayukta informed that the selection committee mandated by Sec 4(1) of the Lokayukta Act has not sat even once to constitute the five-member search committee for appointing the chairperson and three members to form the Lokayutka in the state.
The ngos consisting of TUR, KSU, HNYF, FKJGP, GSU, KWADA, AJYWO, Maitshaphrang Movement, Meghalaya Right to Information Movement, Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei and other groups have urged legislators to raise the issue of immediately setting up of the Lokayukta during the ongoing assembly session to tackle rampant corruption in the state.
In a statement issue on Sunday, the ngos informed that they had met chief minister Mukul Sangma earlier this month to urge for the speedy formation of the Lokayukta in the state.
After their meeting with the chief minister they also met different political parties and said they learnt that 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 nominated by the CJ and an eminent person nominated by the Governor has not had single sitting to constitute the five-member search committee as provided by section 4 (3) of the act which is essential in the process of finding the chairperson and 3 other members who will form the Lokayukta.
The ngos said recent glaring cases of corruption have been the education white ink scam, the NRHM medicine procurement scam, PWD road and bridge making scams, New shillong township scam among others and for that reason appointing the Lokayutka is important in the state.
The ngos said the lapse on the part of the chief minister to form the search committee for appointing the Lokayukata in the state is regrettable considering that in October 2014 he had announced that within five months he would see that there will be a full-fledged Lokayukta in Meghalaya.
The ngos demanded immediate sitting of the selection committee to constitute the search committee in a transparent manner and that the names of the search committee should be made public.
Further it demands immediate operationalisation 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.
It said the annual declaration of assets should be made public and made available online as soon as possible so that citizens can be proactive in checking disproportionate assets of public servants which is a key indicator of corruption and misuse and abuse of power.
The ngos warned that they are prepared for a more intensive action if the demands are not met.- By Our Reporter
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