SHILLONG: Garo National Council (GNC) legislator from Chokpot constituency Clifford R Marak has slammed the Congress-led MUA Government for elevating the status of bureaucrats above that of the elected legislators.
“During the previous Government, the status of bureaucracy had remained below that of the elected legislators. It is only this present Congress-led MUA Government which has given undue importance to the bureaucrats,” Marak said on Thursday while moving a motion in the Assembly on the red beacons provided to the Chief Secretary and MPSC chairperson.
Marak also recalled that former Chief Minister late B.B. Lyngdoh would never bow down to the bureaucrats.
Revealing his own bitter experience during his interaction with bureaucrats, the Chokpot legislator said that the bureaucrats would always look down upon him whenever he approached them.
“I am really disappointed with this attitude of the bureaucracy towards the elected representatives. It is the MLAs from the opposition sides who are being badly treated by the bureaucrats,” Marak said.
While the MLAs from the ruling side might not be concerned with the arrogance shown on the part of bureaucrats, they should not forget after five years they might have to sit in the opposition, Marak said.
Pointing out that if the present Government had so many obligations to the bureaucrats, Marak said it would be better for this Congress-led Government to equate the status of the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary to the level of ‘Joint Chief Minister.’
“This is the best possible way to put the bureaucrats in equal position. The Government should consider this proposal seriously,” the GNC legislator said.
Marak also questioned the Government’s proposal to allow use of red beacons lights by the Chief Secretary and the MPSC chairperson.
“I would like to known if they have taken an oath like the Chief Justice and the Chief Minister to be eligible to use the red beacon lights,” Marak said, alleging that the government move was illegal.
In reply, Transport Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said that the department had consulted the Law department to know which dignitary of the State Government was entitled to the use of red beacon lights.
“The apex court in its order on December 10, 2013, had directed that only constitutional and high dignitaries are entitled to use red-beacon lights,” Lyngdoh reminded.
The Transport Minister also argued that the MPSC Chairperson was entitled to use red beacon lights since she was a Constitutional functionary as per Article 316 of the Constitution while the Chief Secretary was entitled to use the red beacon lights because of his rank being equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary.
