Petition on CM ST status

SHILLONG, APR 17: Tennydard M Marak, a resident of Nokgilawe, Williamnagar in East Garo hills district, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction and legality of the State Level Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) constituted by the state government to probe into the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status of chief minister Mukul Sangma and his brother Zenith Sangma, who is also the state sports minister.

The writ petition was filed on April 12 and was admitted by the Supreme Court, Marak said in a statement. He informed that the petition challenges the jurisdiction and legality of the enquiry proceeding pending before the SLSC for ST status of CM and his brother.

Submitting a letter to the chairman of SLSC on April 16, Marak said it will be appropriate for the SLSC to keep in abeyance further proceeding of the enquiry pending final decision of the Supreme Court on the writ petition.

Marak alleged that the state chief secretary has totally ignored the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)’s request to furnish comments with action taken report within the stipulated 30 days.

The NCST was directed by the Supreme Court to dispose of the matter on merits and in accordance with law preferably within eight weeks which expired since March 24.

“The negligence on the part of the government has delayed the process to dispose of the issue on merits and in accordance with law within the stipulated time which is no doubt a very sorry state of affair for the chief secretary,” Marak opined.

According to Marak, the enquiry pending before the SLSC without any authority of law is patently illegal.

Marak said that the person against whom enquiry should be made is the chief minister of the state, who is the executive head of the state, and the SLSC comprised of the officers belonging to the state executive upon whom the chief minister exercises total control.

“The enquiry proceeding before the SLSC is clearly biased, illegal and arbitrary thus violates the mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution of India,” Marak stated.- By Our Reporter