SHILLONG: The executive committee of the KHADC led by Chief Executive Member P.N Syiem survived the no-confidence motion moved by UDP MDC H.S Shylla on Wednesday, the last day of the budget session.
The House saw a high-pitched discussion on the no-confidence motion before it was withdrawn by Shylla.
In reply to Syiem’s question on whether the motion would garner majority support, Shylla said, “The exigency is to prove whether there is a scam involving the CEM, and if there is, he will have to resign and there is no need of numbers.”
To this, Syiem said, “In India, numbers speak. You cannot win Nongkrem election without numbers.”
While referring to Shylla as a ‘friend’, Syiem pointed out the irony of a friend from PDF moving the no-confidence motion against another friend (Syiem), which according to him lowered the image of the member concerned.
Six Congress MDCs and an Independent supported the no-confidence motion.
Job appointments
Highlighting the alleged anomalies carried out by the present EC, Shylla said the revised age limit for appointments in the District Council is a cause for concern.
“The EC dishonestly changed the age limit from 35 to 40 years. Also, marks for written examination and interview are 200 and 500, respectively,” he said and alleged that the executive committee was following backdoor policy.
To this, the EM in charge of Finance Neil Antonio War said an independent panel decided the marks distribution and “the EC does not have anything to justify”.
The recruitment of a magistrate by KHADC came under scanner after an RTI reply revealed the marks distribution. The examination was held on August 21, 2015, and results were declared on October 6, 2016.
Tax misappropriation
Shylla deliberated on the contentious issue of misappropriation of professional tax in which Rs 35 lakh out of Rs 2 crore was deposited in the account of the Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum (KHCF) that was subsequently transferred to private bank accounts.
“The letter from the forum which was thought to have been lost is now found. It is unknown whether any statement was issued in newspapers that the lost letter was found,” the MDC added.
According to the letter to the CEM, the forum’s member secretary had requested for temporary loan on March 28, 2016.
“The estimated amount we raised from sponsors is Rs 40 lakh. In view of the urgency of the matter, the KHCF requests your kind favour to sanction a temporary loan against the assured sponsorship to ensure smooth progress of the work before the festival. The money will be returned to the council as and when the sponsorship money is released by the different funding agencies,” the letter stated.
Following the letter, the CEM wrote to the Secretary “to immediately arrange Rs 35 lakh as advance which will be recovered from KHCF”.
Shylla termed KHCF as ‘Know How to Corrupt Forcibly’.
But War defended the forum saying it comprised eminent persons and cannot misappropriate money.
Opposing the no-confidence motion, War said, “KHCF is an organising body of the Monolith Festival that is part of the KHADC. Funds are yet to be received in full amount, which has led to the delay in placing the audit report.”
The no-confidence motion witnessed War and Shylla charging and counter charging one another.
