TURA, Dec 19: Taking the bull by the horns and in the face of an all-out onslaught against her administration by agitating Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) staff, the Council secretary has taken a legal recourse against the leaders of the Non-Gazetted Employees Association (NGEA) and a media outlet for ‘vilifying’ her with ‘unfounded’ charges over the non-payment of their monthly salaries.
GHADC secretary, Rikse R Marak, through her advocate L Ralte, has issued a legal notice to four leaders of the NGEA and the online news website Meghalaya News24 for leveling allegations of mismanagement in the GHADC and accusing her of providing undue favours to select Council employees.
“You have made these allegations without any proof or record whatsoever and the allegations made by you are completely baseless, incorrect and unfounded,” the legal notice mentions.
It further accuses the media website of “spreading misinformation which suggests corruption and fraud.”
The legal notice has been served to the NGEA leaders — Senora Johny Arengh (president), Brithen M Sangma (general secretary), Flaming B Marak (joint secretary), Henyvirth Ch Marak (member) and editor of Meghalaya News24 for the publication.
The legal notice has demanded an amende honorable within three days while also warning them to refrain from levelling further allegations sans any evidence.
Meanwhile, the members of the NGEA have filed a counter complaint, accusing Marak of forcibly opening department offices during Friday’s holiday for alleged clearance of paper works related to finance.
Appeal to return to duty
The GHADC Secretary has exhorted the staff to bear with the current situation and attend to their duties.
She said the administration of the GHADC was not in a position to clear the pending salary due to financial predicament. It may be mentioned that the NGEA has been on a pen-down strike since Monday.