Mondal disallows discussion on education scam
SHILLONG: The Opposition parties in the Meghalaya government were prevented on Wednesday from raising the issues concerning the education scam in the state involving ‘tainted’ minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, despite the claim of the Congress-led MUA-II Government that it was committed to weed out corruption.
The Government claimed that the matter was sub-judice and hence it could not be raised.
Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal disallowed a discussion on the education scam which had led the termination of services of lower primary school teachers since there was a petition before the High Court of Meghalaya on this matter.
Later, while replying to the debate on the Governor’s address in the assembly, the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma also took refuge behind the sub-judice plea and
) said that since the matter was pending in the court, he cannot make any comment on it in the Assembly.
While making this announcement after the Question Hour on the fourth day of the Budget session of the assembly on Wednesday, Mondal told the House that he had received a letter from the law department on March 11 informing him that two cases had been filed by before the High Court, challenging the termination order issued by the School Education and Literacy Department on February 28.
“The cases were moved and listed on March 10 before the High Court and the Chief Justice was pleased to issue notice to the State to file its replies within a period of four weeks. Moreover, another six more writ petitions were filed in the case, all the petitions were likely to be listed for motion on March 12 (which is today),” Mondal stated.
He further stated that he would also like to make a reference to Rule 37 (9) on Questions, Rule 117 (d) on Resolutions, Rule 131 (3) (viii) on Motions, which bars discussion on any matter which is under adjudication by a court of law having a jurisdiction in any parts of India.
“Therefore, all the questions, motions, resolutions, amendments etc, which has already been admitted and any other debates on the subject stand subjudice and discussion will not be allowed,” Assembly Speaker added.
It may be mentioned that the Opposition had moved a resolution on the education scam in the current session which was supposed to be taken on Thursday.
In the resolution, the opposition mentioned that the CBI report had already indicted Ampareen Lyngdoh, the then Education Minister in the education scam, in the appointment of lower primary school teachers and similarly the Government has taken cognizance of the High Level Committee report and gone ahead to terminate the service of 246 teachers.
In the resolution, the Opposition wanted that the Government to fix responsibilities for the scam and remove the then Education Minister from the Council Ministers for her role in the education scam.