Officials booking rooms for marriage receptions, claims UDP MLA
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Houses are fast turning into ‘Officers’ Clubs’ with State Government officers booking the rooms for marriage receptions and other purposed thereby defeating the very purpose of establishment of the Meghalaya Houses, which are actually meant for the sick and the needy.
This fact was brought to the notice of the House on Monday by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh during the Question Hour.
After GAD Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh repeatedly told the House there were no incidents of officers arranging marriage parties in Meghalaya Houses, the UDP legislator pointed out that it was a blatant lie.
“In the month of May, I made a call to the Meghalaya House, Delhi to request for accommodation for the family of a government servant, but there were no rooms available. Later, on further query, I was told that that there were no rooms available since four rooms were booked for the wedding reception of the daughter of a senior officer.
“The real purpose of Meghalaya Houses is to serve educational and medical needs. But we have a group of officers who have converted the Meghalaya Houses into Officers’ Clubs,” Lyngdoh said.
If the officers can arrange parties in Meghalaya House, Delhi, why can’t a whole circus group be taken there, the legislator asked.
When the GAD Minister still insisted that records were not available with him about the matter raised by the member, Lyngdoh said that last week, after the Commissioner and Secretary, GAD was summoned by the Assembly Privilege Committee, the official had assured that such a thing would not happen in future. The legislator wanted the Minister to withdraw his erroneous reply.
“The officers are clever enough to cover up if we call for records, as there are chances that the records can be destroyed,” the legislator added.
Speaker A.T. Mondal asked the Minister to cross-check the matter raised by the member.
Raising a supplementary question, HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit sought an inquiry into the matter. Opposition Leader Donkupar Roy also wanted clarity on the matter.
The Minister assured that he would find out the facts related to matter.
Paul Lyngdoh also reminded the House that earlier when D.D. Lapang was the Chief Minister, a room meant for the Governor at VIP Block in Delhi was allotted to an officer for a wedding reception and the matter was inquired into.
Lyngdoh also pointed out that due to the influence of a group of officers, the tenure of the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at Meghalaya House, Delhi was extended three times after his retirement which needs to be examined by the Government.
Martin M Danggo (Congress) wanted to know whether any warrant of precedence is followed while allotting rooms to MLAs, EX-MLAs, Speakers and Deputy Speakers, among others, as per the rules for the occupation of Meghalaya Houses.
The Speaker said that there is a need to amend the rules to ensure warrant of precedence.
