By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The alleged manipulation in the NREGS scheme and the changes in the functionaries of a Village Employment Council under the Selsella in West Garo Hills has led to the intervention of the Shillong bench of the Gauhati High Court after an affected person sought legal redress.
The Court after hearing the case, they wanted proper implementation of the NREGS scheme which ensures jobs to the poor people of the state.
It was on September 29, 2011, that a complaint was lodged before the block development officer , Selsella, West Garo Hills regarding the large scale corruption by then VEC Charbatapara under NREGS scheme. As many as 416 people had lodged complaints.
Later, a general meeting of the people and the job card holders was held on October 13, 2011, which demanded immediate removal of the secretary and a woman member of the VEC.
Another resolution was to form a new committee with Bozlul Hoque, GB Jahidur Islam Sarkar and Morjina Bibi as its president, secretary and a woman member respectively.
The BDO, based on the resolutions approved the committee through an order dated October 14,2011.
However, the BDO, Selsella stayed this order on October 20, 2011 and subsequently reinstated the previous Secretary, Jiadur Islam Saikia and the previous woman member in the new VEC after removing the new secretary and the new woman member through an order issued on November 28, 2011.
This was challenged by a petition by Sarkar in the Shillong bench of the Gauhati High Court.
The counsel for the petitioner said that it was illegal to reinstate the previous secretary and a lady member against whom there were allegations of corruption.
The judge in its recent order found that the stay of the duly elected VEC was against the principle of natural justice as well as the rules under the NREGS scheme. The court also quashed the order of BDO dated October 20,2011 and November 28, 2011.
Later, the new secretary, Sarkar sought the intervention of the BDO Selsella to open the bank account for the new VEC. A writ petition was also filed by the opponent and former secretary , Jiadur Islam Saikia before the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court recently.
