Editor,
The transfer of Superintendent of Police (SP), Ri Bhoi, Ms Claudia Lyngwa at the behest of the Governor is unwarranted and unjustified especially for a minor road mishap where loss of life or injury has not been reported. For that matter transfer of officers of the level of SP or those holding the post of officer-in-charge of police stations and above cannot be at the whims and fancies either of the Government or the Governor. The minimum tenure of the above said officers is two years unless they are covered under any of the clauses (a) to (f) of the Proviso to section 12 (1) of the Meghalaya Police Act 2010 for e.g promotion to higher post, conviction etc., punishment of dismissal, removal, discharge or compulsory retirement etc., suspension from service etc..
Sub Section (2) of section 12 of the aforesaid of 2010 Act provides other exceptional circumstances where an officer can be transferred before expiry of the minimum tenure of two years but such transfers must be in the event that the concerned officer suffers from serious dereliction of duty etc., that too, after holding preliminary enquiry and such transfers can be effected by the competent authority only after due consideration of the Police Establishment Board.
In the present case as is apparent, the transfer was made without following the mandatory procedures laid down under the mandate of Act of 2010. This being election year transfer of Deputy Commissioners or Superintendents of Police should not be carried out in such a haste on flimsy grounds unless there are some very serious lapses or unless there is a clear directive of the Chief Election Commissioner for whatsoever reason concerning electoral matters. Looking at the combatant mood of the NGOs including the public perhaps, the Government should recall the transfer order immediately and that apart, the morale of the entire police force will be affected since it is known that the District Superintendent of Police Ms Claudia Lyngwa has an impeccable service record. As it is, Meghalaya Police are performing various duties like curtailing militancy, curbing crimes maintenance of traffic etc., last but not least the enormous job of providing security to VIPs etc.
The Chief Election Commissioner should be apprised of the arbitrariness of the transfer order of the said officer to 3rd Battalion just on the eve of the General Assembly Elections.
Yours etc.,
VGK Kynta,
Member State Security Commission,
Shillong
NRHM malfunction
Editor,
If we recall correctly the NRHM project was meant to cater to the needs and demands of the rural community in far flung areas, through private-public partnership with a number of non-governmental organizations taking part, some from the state and others from outside. Till date the success and failures can be gauged out by the atmosphere prevalent in the villages by ascertaining whether such organizations have been able to perform or not? A prominent NGO Karuna Trust based at Guwahati with its headquarters at Bangalore was entrusted to reorganize the function of Saipung PHC. Initially everything went well but unfortunately the PHC is now run by a skeletal staff and unable to function as per laid down standards. It has come to the fore that the staff have resigned due to mismanagement by the NGO and that services are now considerably reduced. It is necessary for the health authorities at Jowai and Shillong to verify and find out the lapses before the symptom becomes chronic.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Via email