SHILLONG, JUNE 14: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has expressed shock that its Chairperson has been removed in a ‘whimsical manner’ without any regard to the rule of law.
A statement issued by the MSCW on Wednesday said, “The MSCW has held an emergency meeting today the 13th of June in its office, where all members present expressed their shock at the news reports stating the removal of the Chairperson of the Commission by the Minister in charge of Social Welfare Department, Paul Lyngdoh.”
“This removal announced during a press conference is ultra vires and done in contravention of the tenets of the law, namely, The Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act 2005,” it added.
The statement also said that the Minister had received inaccurate information that stated “the Chairperson had been absent from 3 out of 4 meetings of the Commission”.
“As a matter of fact, all the board meetings of the MSCW have been chaired by the Chairperson,” it said while adding that the relevant minutes of the meetings and all records thereof are documented and filed in the office of the Commission Chapter II Section 4 (3) of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act 2005 states “….no person shall be removed under this sub-section until that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.”
The statement said that the Chairperson found out of her removal from the Chair via the news channels circulated in social media adding “She was never given notice of the charges made against her or an opportunity to be heard, as mandated by the law.”
The Commission said that it is incumbent of the Minister to check the relevant records available at the office of the Commission before stating incorrect facts publically questioning the credibility of the chairperson & the office while adding that “What grieves the Commission is that the Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and Members of the Commission had sent a letter to Minister twice refer No. MSCW/M/13/37/1205 dated 20th April, 2023 and No. MSCW/M/13/37 dated 29th May, 2023 requesting to meet him in order to discuss matters of the office. However, the office of the Minister did not accept the request for a meeting.”
“The office of Commission, being an important Constitutional body to look into matters of women rights and upliftment in the society, as stated by the Minister himself, is shocked that women are being removed from official duties in a whimsical manner with no regard to the rule of law,” the Commission said.
“If this is the plight of a woman Chairperson, we cannot imagine what the hardworking women workforce of the State must be facing on a daily basis. For this and many gender biases that women face, our women workforce rate remains dismal in the State and country,” it further added.
By Our Reporter
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