Appointment of State Lokayukta
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the rules for constitution of a Search Committee which would compile a list of eligible candidates for appointment as Chairperson and members of the State Lokayukta and forward the same to the Selection Committee for final consideration.
Emerging from a Cabinet meeting here on Friday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the State Government has committed itself to complete the process of appointment of the Lokayukta within five months.
The Search Committee will consist of five members headed by a Chairperson. No honorarium would be paid to the members of the Search Committee though the Chairperson will be entitled to Rs.2500 per sitting while members will be entitled to receive Rs.2000 per sitting along with TA and DA for Grade 1 officer of the State for attending such sittings.
There were a series of agitation in the past over the delay in the formation of an effective Lokayukta in Meghalaya.
Pending a full- fledged Lokayukta, corruption cases involving senior and high-ranking officials are currently being handled by the State Vigilance Commission headed by the Chief Secretary, which, however, is being labeled as ‘defunct and toothless’. he latest regarding the Meghalaya Lokayukta is that the rules have been framed by the Political Affairs department which is pending approval by the State Cabinet after which the Chairperson and four members of the Meghalaya Lokayukta would be appointed.
There were a series of amendments to the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act and finally the Meghalaya Lokayukta Bill, 2014 was passed in the March session of the State Assembly this year.
Govt examining proposal for CBI probe in
EJH firing case
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday said that the State Government was examining all options for thorough investigation in the firing incident in East Jaintia Hills which led to the death of two people and injury to five others.
The Chief Minister made the statement when asked if the Government was considering a CBI inquiry into the firing incident.
He also said that the Government was awaiting the report of the magisterial inquiry into the incident. The inquiry report is scheduled to be submitted on October 30.
State contingency fund hiked by Rs.500 crore
The State Government has hiked the Meghalaya Contingency Fund from Rs.105 crore to Rs.605 crore.
Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that various State departments would be able to draw advance from the contingency fund by placing supplementary demands in the Assembly.
Sangma said the contingency fund been hiked from Rs.105 crore to Rs.605 crore to enable several departments to draw advance from the fund. He, however, mentioned that the State Government would regularize advance payment from the fund by introduction a suitable Bill in the House.
Meghalaya Police Act amended
The State Cabinet on Friday amended the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010, to pave way for appointment of a full-time Secretary in the State Security Commission.
The State security panel, constituted in August 2011, includes the Chief Minister as Chairman, Home Minister as Deputy Chairperson, and Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Secretary as members. The State DGP has also been inducted as a member of the security panel.
The Chief Minister argued that appointment of a Secretary in the State Security Commission would make it more capable of fulfilling its mandate since the panel takes several crucial decisions.