‘No immunity, police should proceed with case’
SHILLONG: Former deputy chief minister in charge law, Bindo Lanong, said on Sunday that the police should proceed with the Raj Bhavan case as V. Shanmuganathan, who resigned from the post of the Governor, does not enjoy protection under the Constitution any longer.
“The Governor voluntarily relinquished his post and the protection under the Article 361 of the Constitution does not apply to Shanmuganathan, who is now like a common man,” Lanong said.
The Article 361 states that “no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during his term of office”.
Lanong said the authorities concerned, in this case the State police, are duty-bound to proceed with a criminal case against him and investigate the matter, or the case can be filed by any NGO or any other group to unravel the truth beyond the allegations against him.
The UDP leader also referred to Article 14 of the Constitution, which said no one is above the law whether it is the President or the Governor.
According to Lanong, the Governor was a very friendly personality and did not believe in the customary British legacy of keeping distance and there are chances that his goodness as a person was taken advantage of by some people.
“This is for the first time that the dignity of Meghalaya Raj Bhavan is affected.Now, he is not in office and charges are fresh. Hence, the law is applicable and that police are duty bound to conduct investigation,” he said.
Lanong pointed out that since the charges against the Governor are of very serious nature and the staff of Raj Bhavan had alleged many things which tantamount to criminality, the matter cannot be brushed aside and has to be taken seriously.
“Prima facie, there is a case and the Governor relinquishing the post has given more strength to the prima facie case that there is something wrong. Otherwise he would have contested against the allegations,” Lanong added.
‘Take action against HDR’
Commenting on the delay on the part of Congress led MUA-II government in taking action against HDR Lyngdoh, Lanong said that the Government should take action, and in fact no criminal has been taken into task by those who are at the helm of affairs.
“They are feathers of the same bird and visitors of the same nest. How will they take action,” Lanong said.
