Meghalaya Assembly enters a new low
From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: The frequent visit of legislators from Meghalaya to foreign countries despite widespread criticism from the public as well as constitutional authorities is nothing new.
But it has taken a bizarre turn with none other than the Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly Charles Pyngrope taking his “spouse” as “special assistant” to London and all expenses paid for by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
Communication from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (CPU) of which the Speaker is a member from the hill state showed that he will be accompanied by his wife/spouse. But Meghalaya Assembly Secretariat formally put the request for political clearance to his wife- Mrs Tellis as “special assistant”.
“The honourable Speaker will be accompanied by his Special Assistant, Mrs S M Tellis,” the Assembly letter said while seeking political clearance.
It is not known why the Speaker who occupies such a high position has converted his wife as his Special Assistant. In any case the Speaker’s wife is entitled to accommodation, food and conveyance.
External Affairs Ministry sources said that this could have been done to get her a diplomatic passport. As a non-official she will be entitled a normal passport. It is also possible that she could draw TA/DA if she is declared an official. But to declare somebody as official requires certain procedures. “You can not convert somebody overnight into an official,” sources said. But this is not for the first time that the Meghalaya Assembly Secretariat has tinkered with facts during such visits. Pleasure tours are converted to “post conference” tours. When exposed by media such tours are merged with some non-significant meetings dubbed as “official”.